Legal Status of Tattooing and Piercing In the United States

It’s always exhilarating to get a tattoo or a piercing, especially for the very first time. However, such physical and life-altering experiences for young adults shouldn’t be underestimated. The age minimum for getting a tattoo or a piercing is one issue that many parents and teens worry about. Find out the legal status of tattooing and piercing in the United States in this article.

Depending on the state’s rules and regulations, various U.S. provinces may vary in age restrictions for getting tattoos and getting body piercings.

The legal age for getting a tattoo or getting body piercing might differ depending on the type of service as well as the jurisdiction. State-specific guidelines for parental approval and identification may also exist. It is vital to ensure you abide by the proper rules and regulations in your region; it is essential to contact the local authorities or a qualified specialist.

What vital information do you need to know before getting tattoos and body piercing in the U.S.?

In order to acquire a tattoo or a body piercing in the U.S., a teen must be 18 years old. Nonetheless, in certain areas, parents can provide permission for younger teenagers who desire body art or piercings other than earrings. The types of approval that are permissible and the regulations regarding body art vary by state. 

While a few states have no restrictions, others forbid teens from getting tattoos or body piercings, even with their parent’s permission. Hence, your kid might be able to enter a salon unaccompanied and obtain a tattoo or piercing. It is crucial to discuss these protocols with your kid in order to keep them secure.

State Laws

It’s critical to familiarise oneself with your state’s most recent laws because laws are frequently changed. The following list of state laws is given below:

Alabama

• No minimum age is listed.
• For minors to have a tattoo or piercing, parental or guardian authorization must be provided in writing.
• Alabama’s laws and regulations on body art exempt ear piercing.

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Alaska

• The adult should be at least 18 years old (piercings excluded)
• Parental or guardian approval is required in writing and must be present throughout the process.
• Minors may also be pierced with the parent’s permission.

Arizona

• While the minimum age is not stated, a parent or guardian ought to be present when the process is being done.
• With written or verbal permission from their parents or guardians, minors may get their ears pierced.

Arkansas

• Anybody who is older than 18 may acquire a tattoo or may be pierced.
• Any operation done on a minor is prohibited. Parents are unable to provide permission.
• There are no regulations regarding ear piercing.

California

• Contrary to body piercing, individuals in their teens who are 18 or older are permitted to acquire tattoos.
• The operation must be performed with a parent or adult present.
• Ear piercing is permitted for minors with parental approval.
• Minors are not allowed to get their genitalia or nipples tattooed or pierced.

Colorado

• Those under the age of 18 may acquire a tattoo or get their body pierced with their parent’s written consent.
• The procedure must be performed with a parent or adult present.

Connecticut

• No minimum age is specified.
• Parental or guardian consent is necessary.
• Ear piercing is legal for minors without parental permission.

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District of Columbia

• In comparison to body piercing, individuals in their teens who are 18 or older are permitted to acquire tattoos.
• Parental or guardian approval must be obtained in writing.
• Ear piercing is permitted for minors with parental approval.

Delaware

• Anybody who is older than 18 may acquire a tattoo or may be pierced.
• Requires notarized written permission to conduct a particular operation.
• Rules regulating minors and ear piercing are not defined.

Florida

• Anybody who is older than 16 may possess a tattoo or may get their body pierced.
• A parent or guardian must be present, and they must have a picture I.D., proof of guardianship, and certified approval.
• If carried out by a doctor or dentist, piercings done for dental or medical reasons are exempt.

Georgia

• Getting a tattoo is permitted for young adults 18 and older; however, piercings are not.
• Parental or guardian approval must be obtained in writing before getting any body piercings.
• Without parental permission, minors can get their ears pierced. With the documented parental agreement, minors may get body piercings.
• No one may have a tattoo placed inside an inch of the eye socket.

Hawaii

• The age eligibility is not listed.
• In order to obtain a tattoo or have your body pierced, you must have your parent or guardian’s official consent.

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Idaho

• Teens who have reached the age of at least 14 years can get their tattoos done and a piercing.
• Both the presence of a parent or guardian during the procedure and signed, qualified approval from parents or guardians are essential.
• Ear piercing is legal for minors without parental permission.

Illinois

• In contrast to body piercing, individuals in their teens who are 18 or older are permitted to acquire tattoos.
• For body piercings, written parental or guardian authorization is necessary.
• Ear piercing is legal for minors without parental or guardian permission.

Indiana

• No minimum age is stated.
• During the procedure, a parent or guardian should be present and give written approval.
• Ear piercing is legal for minors without parental permission.

Iowa

• Anybody who is older than 18 may acquire a tattoo and piercings.
• Minors can’t get a tattoo.

Kansas

• Anybody who is older than 16 may acquire a tattoo and get their body pierced.
• The parent or guardian must both provide written, notarized consent and be present when the operation is performed.
• Ear piercing is legal for minors without parental permission.

Kentucky

• Age eligibility is not provided.
• Parental or guardian consent must be expressed in writing and notarized.
• Moreover, a signed written authorization is required for ear piercing.

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Louisiana

• Anybody who is older than 16 may acquire a tattoo and get a body piercing.
• A parent or guardian has to provide written approval as well as be present during the operation for tattooing but not for body piercings.
• The age restriction and parental approval requirements for minors getting ear piercings are not stated.

Maine

• Tattooing is permitted for young adults 18 and older; however, body piercings are not.
• Body piercings need the legal permission of your parents or guardians.
• Ear piercings can be done on minors without their parents’ or guardians’ permission.

Maryland

• There is no mention of the minimum age.
• Young adults must get written permission from their parents or guardians, and that permission must be kept on file for three years.
• Without parental permission, minors may get their ears pierced.

Massachusetts

• 18+-year-olds can receive a tattoo or a body piercing, but not in the genital region.
• A parent may present identification and sign the consent form in the case of non-genital body piercing.
• Without parental permission, minors may get their ears pierced.

Michigan

• Age eligibility is not given.
• A parent or guardian must provide written, informed consent and be present for body piercing and tattooing procedures.
• There is no age restriction or requirement for parental approval in cases when children have their ears pierced.

Minnesota

• Anyone under the age of 18 may acquire tattoos.
• Body piercings on young adults need the presence and approval of both parents and guardians.
• Minors are not allowed to get their genitalia or nipples tattooed or pierced.
• The bifurcation of the tongue, subdermal implantation, and other types of general body alteration are not permitted for minors.

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Missouri

• Age eligibility is not given.
• A parent or legal guardian must give written authorization and be present throughout the process for both tattoos and body piercings.
• No information is provided to minors getting ear piercings.

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Montana

• The age eligibility is not listed.
• A parent or legal guardian must give written authorization and be present throughout the process for both tattoos and body piercings.
• No information is provided to minors getting ear piercings.

Nebraska

• There is no stated minimum age.
• The operation requires a parent or guardian’s written agreement and physical presence.
• The exterior ear components are excluded from piercing.

New Hampshire

• Tattooing is permitted for young adults 18 and older. However, body piercings are not.
• A parent or guardian must give their written agreement and be present throughout the surgery for piercings.
• While minors cannot get their ears piercing or have their brands applied, they are permitted to acquire tattoos.

Nevada

• Unavailable information.
• Tattoos, piercings, and other forms of body art have no prohibition under Nevada state law. Provincial health authorities may regulate these practices.

New Jersey

• Anybody who is older than 16 may acquire a tattoo and piercings.
• Both procedures require the written consent of a parent or legal guardian.
• With parental permission and presence, minors may get ear piercings.

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New Mexico

• The age eligibility is not listed.
• Both parents and guardians must sign a written consent form and be present throughout the operation.
• Ear piercings and medical procedures carried out by qualified doctors are excluded.

North Carolina

• Anybody who is older than 18 may acquire a tattoo or piercing.
• Minors are not allowed to have tattoos, not even with their parents or guardians’ consent.
• Minors may have their ears pierced without their parent’s consent.

New York

• Anybody who is older than 18 may acquire a tattoo and piercing.
• Minors cannot be tattooed without written and signed parental/guardian consent, and both have to be present during the procedure.
• Minors can pierce their ears without their parents’ or guardians’ approval.

North Dakota

• The age eligibility is not listed.
• Both parents and guardians must sign a written consent form and be present throughout the operation.
• No information is provided to minors getting ear piercings.

Ohio

• There is no stated minimum age.
• A parent or guardian consent with signature is necessary, and both must be present in the procedure.
• Without parental or guardian permission and attendance during the process, minors cannot have their ears pierced.

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Oklahoma

• Anybody who is older than 18 may acquire a tattoo or piercing.
• Without express written approval from both parents and legal guardians, who must also be present throughout the tattooing process, minors cannot get inked.
• While scleral tattooing is prohibited by Oklahoma law, ear piercing is not.

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Oregon

• Anybody who is older than 18 may acquire a tattoo or piercing.
• A parent or legal guardian must give written permission and identity documentation for body piercings.
• Minors can have tattoo with a doctor’s permission.

Pennsylvania

• No minimum age is listed.
• Without express written approval from both parents and legal guardians, who must also be present throughout the tattooing process, minors cannot get tattooed.
• There is no information on ear piercings for minors.

Rhode Island

• Anybody who is older than 18 may acquire a tattoo and get their body pierced.
• Although minors cannot have tattoos done, they are permitted to have their ears pierced with parental or guardian permission.

South Carolina

• Anybody who is older than 18 may possess a tattoo or have piercings.
• It is forbidden to tattoo minors. If a parent or guardian has given written, notarized permission and is present during the process, they are permitted to get their ears pierced.
• Tattoos on the head, face, or neck are forbidden.

Tennessee

• Body piercings are not permitted. However, individuals in their teens who are 18 plus may have tattoos.
• A parent or legal guardian must grant written authorization and be present for tattoos that cover already-existing tattoos and piercings.
• Only with parental or guardian approval may minors over the age of 16 receive a tattoo to cover up an already-existing tattoo.

Texas

• No permission for body piercings. However, individuals in their teens who are 18 plus may have tattoos.
• One of the requirements is a parental or guardian agreement in writing and presence for piercings and tattoos that cover already-existing tattoos.
• Body piercing laws and statutes do not apply to ear piercing.

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Utah

• The age eligibility is not mentioned.
• The process requires a parent or guardian’s written consent, identification, and presence.
• Ear piercing is legal for minors without parental or guardian permission.

Vermont

• The age eligibility is not listed.
• There is no further information available.

Virginia

• The age eligibility is not mentioned.
• Throughout the process, a parent or guardian must be present.
• Minors may have their ears pierced without their parents’ or guardians’ knowledge or approval.

Washington

• No permission for body piercings. However, individuals in their teens who are 18 plus may have tattoos.
• Teenagers cannot get a tattoo.
• There is no further information available.

West Virginia

• Age eligibility is not provided.
• A parent or legal representative must sign off in writing.

Wisconsin

• No permission for body piercings . However, individuals in their teens who are 18 plus may have tattoos.
• Tattooing for anyone less than the age of 18 has no authorization.
• A doctor may offer tattooing and body piercing as part of their professional practice.

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Wyoming

• There is no stated minimum age.
• There is a requirement for verbal agreement and the physical presence of a parent or guardian for the procedure.
• By Wyoming state law, treatments given while being supervised by a qualified medical professional do not qualify as body art.

Conclusion:

It is vital to check with the local legal system and tattoo/piercing community for further details regarding the laws and legislation of each U.S. state. Professional tattoo and piercing shops are other places to gain more information.

Be aware that piercers and tattoo artists have the authority to refuse to tattoo or pierce a person under the age of 18. In certain areas, such actions have prohibitions for individuals under the age of 18. Tattoo artists may also decline to execute any work that they deem unsuitable or insulting. In terms of the age limit and tattooing/piercing services, be sure to check for further limitations and exclusions carefully.