U.S. Tattoo Laws for Minors
For the most part, as long as you’re 18 years of age you can get a tattoo. In some instances minors can get tattoos if they’re accompanied by a legal guardian and/or have obtained written consent from a legal guardian. The chart below outlines the tattoo laws in each state.
|
State |
Minimum |
Laws for Minors |
| Alabama |
18 |
Requires written consent of a parent or guardian. |
| Alaska |
18 |
Illegal. |
| Arizona |
18 |
Requires the physical presence of a parent or guardian. |
| Arkansas |
18 |
Requires written and in-person consent of a parent or guardian. |
| California |
18 |
Illegal. |
| Colorado |
18 |
Requires “express consent from the minor’s parent or guardian.” The state law does not define the term “express consent.” |
| Connecticut |
18 |
Requires written consent a parent or guardian. |
| Delaware |
18 |
Requires written consent of a parent or guardian. |
| Florida |
18 |
Requires written notarized consent of a parent or guardian. |
| Georgia |
18 |
Illegal unless by “a licensed osteopath or technician acting under the direct supervision of a licensed physician or osteopath.” |
| Hawaii |
18 |
Requires written consent from a parent or guardian. |
| Idaho |
18 |
Allowed if the minor is at least 14 years of age. Additionally, written and in-person consent must be provided by a parent or guardian. |
| Illinois |
21 |
Illegal. |
| Indiana |
18 |
Requires written and in-person consent of a parent or guardian. |
| Iowa |
18 |
Illegal. |
| Kansas |
18 |
Illegal. |
| Kentucky |
18 |
Requires written notarized consent of a parent or guardian. |
| Louisiana |
18 |
Requires in-person consent of a parent or guardian. |
| Maine |
18 |
Illegal. |
| Maryland |
18 |
Illegal. |
| Massachusetts |
18 |
Illegal. |
| Michigan |
18 |
Requires written and in-person consent of a parent or guardian. |
| Minnesota |
18 |
Requires written consent of a parent or guardian. |
| Mississippi |
18 |
Illegal. |
| Missouri |
18 |
Requires written and in-person consent of a parent or guardian. |
| Montana |
18 |
Requires in-person consent of a parent or guardian. |
| Nebraska |
18 |
Requires written consent of a parent or guardian. |
| Nevada |
18 |
Illegal. |
| New Hampshire |
18 |
Illegal. |
| New Jersey |
18 |
Requires written consent of parent or guardian. |
| New Mexico |
18 |
Requires written and in-person consent of a parent or guardian. |
| New York |
18 |
Requires parental consent. The law does not specify whether it must be written or in-person. New regulations are pending. |
| North Carolina |
18 |
Illegal. |
| North Dakota |
18 |
Requires in-person consent of a parent or guardian. |
| Ohio |
18 |
Requires in-person signed consent of a parent or guardian. |
| Oklahoma |
18 |
Illegal. |
| Oregon |
18 |
Illegal. |
| Pennsylvania |
18 |
Requires written consent of parent or guardian. |
| Rhode Island |
18 |
Illegal. |
| South Carolina |
21 |
Allowed if the minor is at least 18 years of age. Additionally, either notarized written consent must provided by the parent or guardian OR the tattoo must be applied in the presence of the parent or guardian. |
| South Dakota |
18 |
Requires a written consent form from a parent or guardian. |
| Tennessee |
18 |
Allowed if the minor is at least 16 years of age and written and in-person consent is provided by the parent or guardian. |
| Texas |
18 |
Allowed only if it is to cover an obscene or offensive tattoo. Even then, either notarized written consent must be provided by the parent/guardian OR the tattoo must be applied in the presence of the parent or guardian. |
| Utah |
18 |
Requires in-person consent of a parent or guardian. |
| Vermont |
18 |
Requires written consent or a parent or guardian. |
| Virginia |
18 |
Requires in-person consent of a parent or guardian. |
| Washington |
18 |
Illegal. |
| West Virginia |
18 |
Requires written consent from a parent or guardian. |
| Wisconsin |
18 |
Illegal. |
| Wyoming |
18 |
Requires in-person consent of a parent or guardian. |
Definition of Terms
In-person Consent: this requires the legal parent or guardian to provide verbal consent allowing their minor son or daughter to get a tattoo. Consent must be provided in person at the tattoo studio. The legal guardian/parent may be required to provide legal proof of guardianship.
Written Consent: this requires the legal parent or guardian to provide, in writing, the following information:
- The legal name of the minor and the legal name of the guardian or parent;
- The address of both the minor and the legal guardian or parent;
- The telephone number of both the minor and the legal guardian or parent;
- The location where the tattoo will be pierced;
- The signatures of both the minor and the legal guardian or parent.
Written Consent Forms: Some tattoo studios have pre-printed consent forms on hand for signature. Some states require tattoo studios to place specific information on the consent forms.
Written Notarized Consent: this requires the legal parent or guardian to have the information outlined above in the Written Consent section notarized by a licensed notary public.
This list was developed on May 26, 2008. Remember that laws change. When in doubt, call your state’s Department of Public Health. You should be able to find them online by searching for “xx Department of Public Health” where “xx” represents the state abbreviation (e.g., “CA Department of Public Health”).
Your state’s Department of Public Health should also be listed in the state government section of the telephone book.
It took me a few hours to research the laws for each state. I hope this information is helpful.
For more information see: Tattoo Laws for Minors: Know the Risks
Im 16, can i get a tattoo in Conn.? and if i can what do i need to bring with me? and dose any body know what tattoo palor will do it for me?
so if you dont live in a state that you can get underaged tatoo’s can you go to a state where its okay and be able to get it?
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i already have a tattoo and i live in wisconsin and im 16 so do tha math
I live in Texas and I’m 16. Can I get a tattoo with the parent present at the tattoo parlor?
First off do your research. You can get a tattoo in illinois if you are 18. You don’t need consent.
im 14 and i really want a tattoo. and my mom said i can get one if im at least 15. is there anybody who would do that for me?
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I was told the youngest age to get a tattoo professionally done with parent consent was age 16 now states are saying it has to be 18? That is ridiculous. As long as the parent says it is ok, a minor of a reasonable age should be allowed to get a professional tattoo done. Otherwise have a licensed friend do it for you.
Well.. Im 14 and i got a tattoo, But i live in VA. It also depends on the shop you can get it from because most tattoo places wont accept minors. Luckily one accepted me.
In Tennessee you cannot get a tattoo if you are under the age of 18, even with parental consent, unless they are covering a previous tattoo. That should be defined more clearly on this list.
Franky, could you tell me where you got yours done?
If a minor in FL gets written notarized consent from someone claiming to be a parent or guardian, is it still considered illegal? My 15 yr old son got this done, I plan on having the tatoo artist, his friend who paid for it, and whoever consented, arrested.
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What’s the rush? Tattoo’s are forever, wait till your 18. It gives you something to look forward to!
im 15 and i live in minnesota can get a tattoo with parental concent
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I have a scar on my leg do to a cream i was putting on my leg because of my allergy and im so embarrassed to show my legs in public and i want to do a tatto but im just 15 so i wanted to konw if it is legal to get a tatto in new nersey at that age with my mother permission?
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We live in illinois and my 16 yr od daughters mother has allowed her to get several tatoos and piercings from an unlicensed person. This has happened since my daughter was 15 and I just recently found out about it. What can I do? Can anyone give me new information on the laws when a parent allows the minor child to get this doen from an unlicensed perosn?
ash says:
May 26, 2010 at 10:57 am
im 15 and i live in minnesota can get a tattoo with parental concent
- If you haven’t been answered, as of July 1st minors will not be allowed to be tattoo’d. And the youngest most were allowed was 16.
What if my child in the state of (Maryland) went and had a tattoo done on their body and was under the legal age of 18 without consent. What could happen if the parents did not authorise it?
Thank you Darrell
I am 14 and I was wondering if I could get a tattoo under legal age WITH a parent or guardian?
i am 14 years old and live in maryland, i have friends, and classmates with tattoos but he chart says its illegal in maryland, how is this possible?
if im 15 and want to get a tattoo in delaware am i allowed to get one with parent consent or do i have to be older ?
If I am 17 but married can I get a tattoo in the state of North Carolina?
im almost 15 and my friend recently died. i want to get a tattoo on my shoulder that says forever faith because faith was her name. i live in ny state. is it legal when i turn 16 with parental consent?
I my self jerri priest is an amazeing tattoo artist but i wuz look’n for the law against a 17 year old given tattoo’s?
or puting tattoo’s on myself considering i do them.
in the state of oklahoma or arkansas…..
If you’re younger than 16, you shouldn’t be getting a tattoo anyways.
[...] disease.By: Scarlett Moore About the Author: Before getting a tattoo it's important to know the U.S. tattoo laws for both adults and minors. Additionally, some tattoo procedures like lower back tattoos come with [...]
Kate, where in wisconsin did you get your tattoo??
whats up with cali? yeesh.