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
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They changed the law 2 years ago to the legal age of 18..
Mandy: for which state? I’ll update the chart.
Thanks!
I am confused about the laws that govern NH, you chart here says must have consent for a minor, but I cant find that in the nh dept of health… is there any way you can verify this?
Carol:
Here’s the supporting documentation:
New Hampshire Statutes
TITLE XXX
OCCUPATIONS AND PROFESSIONS
CHAPTER 314-A BODY ART
Section 314-A:8
314-A:8 Body Art on Minors Prohibited.
I. Branding and tattooing a person under the age of 18 is prohibited.
II. Body piercing a person under the age of 18 is prohibited without consent of that person’s parent or legal guardian.
III. The consent required by paragraph II of this section shall be satisfied only by the parent or legal guardian being physically present at the time the body piercing is performed and, upon presenting evidence of the person’s status as parent or legal guardian, by signing a document declaring that the person is the parent or legal guardian of the minor on whom the piercing is to be performed. The consent shall indicate the location of the piercing on the minor’s body. Records shall be maintained for a minimum of 7 years.
Here’s the source document:
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/XXX/314-A/314-A-8.htm
Let me know if you have any other questions.
TattooGirl
Tattos under 18 in NH are not allowed even with parent/guardian consent..
That’s what all the places I called in NH said atleast..
What is the legal age to be tattooed or pierced in Harford County, Maryland?
It should be the same as the state of Maryland, illegal for people under the age of 18.
Amanda: you’re correct. The law as stated in the excerpt allows piercing with the consent of a parent/guardian but states that tattooing is illegal for people under the age of 18.
Thanks, I’ve updated the chart accordingly.
[...] This site gets quite a few visitors looking for information on tattooing minors. If you want to see the laws on whether a minor can get a tattoo, a chart listing the legal tattoo ages for minors in the U.S. is provided in the article titled U.S. Tattoo Laws for Minors. [...]
Will tattoo parlors in California give a minor a tattoo if they bring their parents with them?
Francesca: according to the California Dept. of Health it’s illegal for a tattoo studio to give a tattoo to a minor, even if they bring their parents with them. If you find a tattoo studio willing to break the law leave immediately because the tattoo studio clearly isn’t reputable.
fuck the law uma get me a tattoo and mt mama gone sign for it i was gone g\et it on my birthday (aug 17) but they just changed the law in georgia till u have to be 18… but uma get my tattoo cuz my mama said i could and im only 15
Hi there…tried to get my 17yr old daughter a tattoo in Texas with my permission, i even went to the tattoo place with her. They refused and said even with parents consent they couldn’t tattoo her. Can she get it done in New Mexico?
Underage tattoos are allowed in New Mexico with both written and in-person consent from a guardian or parent. However, some tattoo studios simply won’t do it (even with your consent) because the person receiving the tattoo is underage.
If you’re determined to do this you should call around.
In Nevada, though most won’t, it’s legal with parental consent for minors as young as 14 years old.
Some don’t ask for anything but the parent’s ID and a signature authorizing the tattoo, but most ask for birth certificates.
Im 17 on Austin tx and I need help finding good tatooshops here.so if u know any place good tell me. Thanks alot.
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my ex-wife is being charge for tattoo my 11 year old, they are charger her with feloney for signing that waiver stated she was 16 and she was not. they also charger her with child abuse and child endangerment. can they do that her in the of ga.
Billy: Not sure on this one. You may want to seek legal counsel.
so for sc…does that mean with written consent by the parent you can be 16, and get a tattoo?????
Can i get a tattoo in SC with a parental consent at 16, if not where can i get one that’s close???
In South Carolina:
-You have to be 21 to get a tattoo without requiring your parent’s consent.
-You have to be 18 years old to get a tattoo WITH your parent’s written consent.
Sorry, but it looks like South Carolina’s tattoo laws require you to be at least 18 years old. I didn’t see any provision at all for someone that’s 16 years old.
See the comment above. You can’t get a tattoo in South Carolina at the age of 16, even if you have written parental consent.
Looks like the closest state that will allow a 16 year old to get a tattoo (with written parental consent AND with the parents present at the tattoo studio) is Tennessee.
i am 16 and i want a tattoo in michigan can i get it with parents consent
Can a 16 year old in New York (Long Island) with parental consent get tattooed?
In Michigan if you’re a minor you can get a tattoo with written and in-person consent of a parent or guardian.
Looks like you can get a tattoo with parental consent. Call a few tattoo studios to determine whether they require written or in-person consent.
I wanted to surprise my daughter by letting her get a tattoo this summer.
She’ll be 14 in april.
Were going to get it done in Delaware.
What shops will tattoo her with my consent?
The minimum age in Delaware is 18, but it looks like they’ll allow a minor to get tattooed with the written consent of a parent. HOWEVER, many places WILL NOT tattoo someone under 16, even with written parental consent. You should call tattoo studios to see if they’ll do this.
My dad said he’ll take me to get a tattoo soon.
I’m 17 and I live in California..where’s the closest state that will tattoo me?
The closest state would be Arizona. Their minimum age for allowing someone to get a tattoo is 18 but they’ll let a minor get a tattoo if the parent or legal guardian is physically present while the tattoo is being applied.
You should call a few tattoo studios in Arizona to find out if other restrictions apply.
I live in NJ, and how old do I have to be with parental consent to get a tattoo at 16 of age? If not there where the is closest place that will tattoo a 16 year old?
Why should it be illegal that if you under 18years of age you should not be able to get a tattoo? I think it should be up to the prants or prant
Can minors in Maine get a tattoo with parental consent/accompaniment? I really want one, but I can’t seem to find a clear answer to that!
I am 17 and me and my father want to get a tattoo this weekend. what state in new England must we go to that allows this
My husband just found out that his ex gave parental consent for his 16 year old to get a tattoo(took her to get one). She knew that he is/was totally against it. They have joint custody(although she has physical custody)-Is there anything that he can do now that it’s done? Are these grounds to sue for full custody? Can he make her have it removed? We live in Michigan, and we can’t find any specific info. PLEASE HELP! He is so upset,and not sure what to do. THANKS!!!
Maria: Yes, you need your parent’s written consent if you’re under 18. The next closest place is NY but it also requires parental consent.
Sierra: the last time I checked, tattooing a minor in Maine was illegal, even with parental consent. Sorry.
Matt:
Here are the tattoo laws in New England states for minors:
Connecticut: requires written consent of a parent or guardian.
Maine: illegal to tattoo a minor.
Massachusetts: illegal to tattoo a minor.
New Hampshire: illegal to tattoo a minor.
Rhode Island: illegal to tattoo a minor.
Vermont: requires written consent of a parent or guardian.
Hope that helps!
Tattooing a minor in Michigan requires written and in-person consent of a parent or guardian. When I looked into this I didn’t see anything specifying that both parents have to provide consent.
It sounds like this is an issue that may require legal counsel.
What exactly does that mean, the whole bit about the minor laws in GA — “Illegal unless by “a licensed osteopath or technician acting under the direct supervision of a licensed physician or osteopath.”
I’m 16 and I have written parental consent, they just don’t want to go with me because both my mom and my dad are very squeamish. So what exactly does that mean, and where would the closest place be to go with the parental consent that I have?
It means that if you’re under 18, you can only get a tattoo if:
-it’s administered by a physician; or
-it’s administered by a technician who’s being directly supervised by a physician.
Here’s the exact wording of the GA law:
“(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to tattoo the body of any person under the age of 18, except that a physician or osteopath licensed under Chapter 34 of Title 43, or a technician acting under the direct supervision of such licensed physician or osteopath, and in compliance with Chapter 9 of Title 31 shall be authorized to mark or color the skin of any person under the age of 18 by pricking in coloring matter or by producing scars for medical or cosmetic purposes.
(b) Any person violating the provisions of subsection (a) of this Code section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.”
i’m 16 turning 17 and live in iowa. what would be the best way to get a tattoo? do i have to leave the state
I am interested in getting a tattoo in Nebraska. However, I am not yet 18, and there seems to be a bit of inconsistancy on whether or not I can. Some sites say not at all, some say with parental permission. From people I know, it would seem to be legal, but I’d just like to get confirmation.
Thanks
I live in Ca and I’m turning 14 this sept. My mom agreed to letting me get a tattoo, and is willing to take me to close by states like Nevada and such to get one.
Where could I possibly get one?
So I what state to look up tattoo shops in.
In the state of Minnesota, You will need to be at least 16 years of age, with both parents present. The parents, and the kid will ALL need Minnesota drivers license.
Just called 3 diffrent tattoo shops, same thing each time.
I called 7 different tattoo parlors in TN and they all say the same thing and TattooGirl hit me up my email is damianbrown44@yahoo.com
I am the father of an 18 year old girl in California. My daughter’s boyfriend gave her a tattoo across her abdomen in his parent’s home with a tattoo kit purchased on line while she was still 17. Upon confronting the boy’s father, he admitted to purchasing the tattoo kit for his son. (The boy is also a minor.) Because we have rules and two younger daughters to think about and our newly disfigured daughter just had her 18th birthday, my wife and I have reluctantly decided that she can no longer live in our home. My attorney says it would cost more to prosecute than we can claim for damages. I believe that what occurred should constitute a misdemeanor in CA – big deal. I don’t believe these “parents” should get away with this without some consequences. Any thoughts?