Thinking about getting inked? One of the first questions many people ask, especially younger individuals, is: “What Age Can You Get A Tattoo?” It’s a valid question, and the answer isn’t always straightforward. Unlike some countries with nationwide regulations, the United States leaves it to individual states to determine the legal age for tattoos. This means tattoo laws can vary significantly depending on where you are.
Generally, in the majority of the United States, you need to be at least 18 years old to get a tattoo. This age is often tied to legal adulthood and the capacity to provide informed consent for what is considered a permanent body modification. However, the specifics around age and tattoos get more nuanced when you consider parental consent and the varying laws across different states.
This comprehensive guide will break down the minimum age requirements for tattoos in each state, explore situations where minors might be able to get tattooed with permission, and discuss other important factors to consider, like tattoo studio policies. Whether you’re a teen eager to get your first tattoo, a parent wondering about the legalities, or simply curious about tattoo laws, this article will provide you with the information you need to understand the age restrictions surrounding tattooing in the USA.
Minimum Tattoo Age Laws Across the United States: A Detailed Breakdown
Navigating tattoo laws in the U.S. can feel like a maze, with each state setting its own rules. To simplify things, we’ve compiled a state-by-state guide outlining the minimum age to get a tattoo and whether parental consent is an option. Keep in mind that even where allowed by law, individual tattoo studios may have stricter policies. Always check directly with the studio beforehand.
Alabama
- Minimum Age: 18 years old
- State Law: AL Code § 22-17A-2
- Parental Consent Required: Yes, a minor can get a tattoo if a parent or legal guardian provides written informed consent in the presence of the tattoo artist or their representative.
- Emancipated Minors: Emancipated minors are permitted to get a tattoo if they present their emancipation decree and a government-issued photo ID.
Alaska
- Minimum Age: 18 years old
- State Law: AS 08.13.217
- Parental Consent: Illegal to tattoo anyone under 18, even with parental permission. Exceptions may apply for medical reasons or emancipated minors.
- Emancipated Minors: No specific laws mentioned, but given the outright prohibition, it’s likely emancipated minors are also restricted until 18.
Arizona
- Minimum Age: 18 years old
- State Law: A.R.S. 13-3721
- Parental Consent and Presence Required: Minors can get tattooed if a parent or guardian consents and is physically present during the procedure.
- Emancipated Minors: Emancipated minors still require parental presence for tattooing in Arizona.
Arkansas
- Minimum Age: 18 years old
- State Law: Arkansas Code § 20-27-1502
- Parental Consent and Presence Required: Minors aged 16-17 can get a tattoo with parental consent. They must present state-issued ID, birth certificate with parent’s name, and have a parent present with their ID.
California
- Minimum Age: 18 years old
- State Law: HSC § 119302
- Parental Consent: Illegal to tattoo anyone under 18, even with parental consent.
- Emancipated Minors: Emancipated minors are also prohibited from getting tattoos until they are 18.
Colorado
- Minimum Age: 18 years old
- State Law: Colo. Rev. Stat. § 25-4-2103
- Parental Consent Required: Minors aged 16-17 can get tattooed with parental consent.
Connecticut
- Minimum Age: 18 years old
- State Law: C.G.S. § 20-266p
- Parental Consent Required: Minors can get tattooed with written parental consent.
- Emancipated Minors: Emancipated minors can get a tattoo with their legal decree or marriage certificate and government-issued photo ID.
Delaware
- Minimum Age: 18 years old
- State Law: Delaware Code Ch. 243
- Parental Consent and Presence Required: Minors under 18 can get a tattoo with prior written parental consent. Some studios may require notarized consent and photo IDs for both minor and parent.
District of Columbia
- Minimum Age: 18 years old
- District Law: D.C. Code § 47–2853.76e
- Parental Consent: Illegal to tattoo anyone under 18, even with parental consent.
- Emancipated Minors: Emancipated minors are also prohibited from getting tattoos until 18.
Florida
- Minimum Age: 16 years old
- State Law: Chapter 381, Section 00787 of the 2011 Florida Statutes
- Parental Consent and Presence Required: Minors aged 16 or 17 can get a tattoo if accompanied by a parent or legal guardian with valid ID and written notarized consent. Tattooing those under 16 is prohibited except for medical/dental reasons by licensed professionals.
- Emancipated Minors: Emancipated minors must also wait until 18 to get a tattoo in Florida.
Georgia
- Minimum Age: 18 years old
- State Law: O.C.G.A. § 16-5-71
- Parental Consent: Illegal to tattoo anyone under 18 unless performed by a licensed osteopath or technician under physician supervision for medical reasons. Parental consent is not permitted for non-medical tattoos.
- Emancipated Minors: Emancipated minors are also prohibited from getting tattoos until 18.
Hawaii
- Minimum Age: 18 years old
- State Law: Haw. Code R. § 11-17-7
- Parental Consent Required: Minors under 18 can get tattooed with written parental permission. Consents must be kept at the tattoo shop.
Idaho
- Minimum Age: 18 years old (prohibition on minors under 14 is outright).
- State Law: Idaho Code § 18-1523
- Parental Consent Required: Minors aged 14-18 need parental/guardian presence and written consent. Studios may have stricter age policies (e.g., minimum 16).
- Emancipated Minors: Emancipated minors can get a tattoo with their legal decree or marriage certificate and government-issued photo ID.
Illinois
- Minimum Age: 18 years old
- State Law: 720 ILCS 5/12C-35
- Parental Consent: Illegal to tattoo anyone under 18, even with parental consent, unless for medical reasons by a physician or licensed technician under supervision.
- Emancipated Minors: Emancipated minors are also prohibited from getting tattoos until 18.
Indiana
- Minimum Age: 18 years old
- State Law: Indiana Code § 35-45-21-4
- Parental Consent and Presence Required: Minors under 18 can get tattooed if a parent/guardian is present and provides written consent.
Iowa
- Minimum Age: 18 years old
- State Law: DEPARTMENT OF INSPECTIONS, APPEALS, AND LICENSING, §10A.531
- Emancipated Minors: Emancipated minors can get a tattoo with their legal decree or marriage certificate and government-issued photo ID. Unmarried minors under 18 are generally prohibited.
Kansas
- Minimum Age: 18 years old
- State Law: Kansas Code – 65-1953
- Parental Consent and Presence Required: Minors can get tattooed with written notarized parental/guardian permission, and the consenting adult must be present during the procedure.
- Emancipated Minors: Emancipated minors are prohibited from getting tattoos until 18.
Kentucky
- Minimum Age: 16 years old
- State Law: Title 902 Chapter 45 Regulation 065 Section 7
- Parental Consent Required: Minors can get tattooed with written notarized consent from a custodial parent or legal guardian.
Louisiana
- Minimum Age: 18 years old
- State Law: RS 14:93.2
- Parental Consent and Presence Required: Minors under 18 can get tattooed with permission from a parent/guardian who is present during the tattooing.
Maine
- Minimum Age: 18 years old
- State Law: Maine Revised Statutes Title 32, § 4203
- Parental Consent: Illegal to tattoo anyone under 18, even with parental consent.
- Emancipated Minors: Emancipated minors are also prohibited from getting tattoos until 18.
Maryland
- Minimum Age: 18 years old
- State Law: Code of Md. Regulations, 10.06.01.06
- Parental Consent Required: Minors can get tattooed with written parental consent.
- Emancipated Minors: Emancipated minors can get a tattoo with their legal decree or marriage certificate and government-issued photo ID.
Massachusetts
- Minimum Age: 18 years old
- State Law: Model Regulations for Body Art Establishments
- Parental Consent: Illegal to tattoo anyone under 18, even with parental consent.
- Emancipated Minors: Emancipated minors are also prohibited from getting tattoos until 18.
Michigan
- Minimum Age: 18 years old
- State Law: MCL – Section 333.13102
- Parental Consent Required: Minors can get tattooed with prior written consent from a parent/guardian. Consent must be in person, and the guardian must provide proof of birth certificate or guardianship.
- Emancipated Minors: Emancipated minors can get a tattoo with their legal decree or marriage certificate and government-issued photo ID as they are not considered “minors” under the law.
Minnesota
- Minimum Age: 18 years old
- State Law: 2023 Minnesota Statutes 146B.07
- Parental Consent Required: Minors can get tattooed with parental consent.
- Emancipated Minors: Emancipated minors are prohibited from getting tattoos until 18.
Mississippi
- Minimum Age: 18 years old
- State Law: Miss.Code Ann. § 73-61-1
- Parental Consent: Illegal to tattoo anyone under 18, even with parental consent.
- Emancipated Minors: Emancipated minors are also prohibited from getting tattoos until 18.
Missouri
- Minimum Age: 18 years old
- State Law: RSMo Section 324.520
- Parental Consent Required: Minors under 18 can get tattooed with written parental/guardian consent in the presence of the tattoo artist.
- Emancipated Minors: Emancipated minors are prohibited from getting tattoos until 18.
Montana
- Minimum Age: 18 years old
- State Law: Tattooing and Piercing Establishments Administrative Rules Section 37.112.144
- Parental Consent and Presence Required: Minors under 18 can get tattooed if a parent/guardian is present to sign a consent form, showing valid ID and birth certificate. Matching last names or legal guardianship documentation is needed. Parent must remain during the procedure.
Nebraska
- Minimum Age: 18 years old
- State Law: Nebraska Revised Statute 38-10,165
- Parental Consent and Presence Required: Minors can get tattooed with parental consent, and the parent/court-appointed guardian must be present during the procedure.
Nevada
(Information for Nevada is missing from the original article. Needs to be researched and added for completeness.)
New Hampshire
- Minimum Age: 18 years old
- State Law: N.H. Rev. Stat. § 314-A:8
- Parental Consent: Illegal to tattoo anyone under 18, even with parental consent.
New Jersey
- Minimum Age: 18 years old
- State Law: N.J. Rev. Stat. Section 2C:40-21
- Parental Consent Required: Minors under 18 can get tattooed with written permission from a parent or legal guardian.
New Mexico
- Minimum Age: 18 years old
- State Law: HB 790
- Parental Consent Required: For those 17 or younger, a notarized consent form from a parent/guardian is required. Consent must be delivered in person by the parent/guardian with photo ID. Minors cannot deliver it themselves.
New York
- Minimum Age: 18 years old
- State Law: Section 260.21 of New York State Penal Law
- Parental Consent: Illegal to tattoo anyone under 18, even with parental consent.
- Emancipated Minors: Emancipated minors are also prohibited from getting tattoos until 18.
North Carolina
- Minimum Age: 18 years old
- State Law: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-400
- Parental Consent: Illegal to tattoo anyone under 18, even with parental consent.
- Emancipated Minors: Emancipated minors are also prohibited from getting tattoos until 18.
North Dakota
- Minimum Age: 18 years old
- State Law: N.D. Code § 12.1-31-13
- Parental Consent and Presence Required: Minors can get tattooed with parental consent, and the parent must be present during the procedure.
Ohio
- Minimum Age: 18 years old
- State Law: Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3730.06
- Parental Consent and Presence Required: Minors can get tattooed with parental consent. Parent must: a) be present, b) sign a procedure document, c) present valid IDs for themselves and minor, and d) provide birth certificate proving relationship.
- Emancipated Minors: Emancipated minors can get a tattoo as they are considered independent and can consent to their own medical treatment.
Oklahoma
- Minimum Age: 18 years old
- State Law: Oklahoma State Department of Health Tattooing and Body Piercing Title 21 Section 842.1 et seq.
- Parental Consent and Presence Required: Minors can get tattooed with parental consent, and the parent must be present during the procedure.
Oregon
- Minimum Age: 18 years old
- State Law: Oregon Health Authority, Health Licensing Office – Chapter 331-915-0065
- Parental Consent: Tattooing minors under 18 is allowed only with a physician’s statement authorizing/recommending the procedure and parental consent.
- Emancipated Minors: Emancipated minors are prohibited from getting tattoos until 18.
Pennsylvania
- Minimum Age: 18 years old
- State Law: Pa. Cons. Stat. Title 18 § 6311
- Parental Consent and Presence Required: Minors can get tattooed with parental consent, and the parent must be present during the procedure.
- Emancipated Minors: Emancipated minors may be exempt if they can present legal documentation of their status.
Rhode Island
- Minimum Age: 18 years old
- State Law: R.I. Gen. Laws Tit. 11. Criminal Offenses § 11-9-15
- Parental Consent: Tattooing minors under 18 is only allowed with a medical exemption.
- Emancipated Minors: Emancipated minors are prohibited from getting tattoos until 18.
South Carolina
- Minimum Age: 18 years old
- State Law: S.C. Code § 44-34-100
- Parental Consent: Illegal to tattoo anyone under 18, even with parental consent.
- Emancipated Minors: Emancipated minors are prohibited from getting tattoos until 18.
South Dakota
- Minimum Age: 18 years old
- State Law: S.D. Codified Laws Ann. § 26-10-19
- Parental Consent Required: Minors under 18 need signed parental/guardian consent; some studios may require notarization.
Tennessee
- Minimum Age: 18 years old (prohibition on minors 16 and older, except for cover-ups).
- State Law: Tenn. Code § 62-38-211
- Parental Consent: Minors aged 16 and 17 can get tattooed with parental supervision only for covering up an existing tattoo.
Texas
- Minimum Age: 18 years old (prohibition on younger minors, except for cover-ups).
- State Law: RULE § 229.406 – Texas Administrative Code; Laws in Texas for Tattoos: Minimum Age and Other Restrictions.
- Parental Consent Required: Parent/guardian can approve tattoo cover-ups for minors under 18, especially for offensive content. Valid government ID with DOB is needed. For those 17 or younger getting cover-ups, a parent/guardian must be present.
Utah
- Minimum Age: 18 years old
- State Law: Utah Code Ann. § 76-10-2201
- Parental Consent Required: No tattoos for anyone under 18, even with parental consent, unless recommended or approved by a physician for medical reasons.
Vermont
- Minimum Age: 18 years old
- State Law: Vt. Stat. Ann. Tit. 26 § 4101
- Parental Consent Required: Minors under 18 can get tattooed with written parental/guardian permission.
Virginia
- Minimum Age: 18 years old
- State Law: Va. Code § 18.2-371.3
- Parental Consent and Presence Required: Individuals must be 18 to get a tattoo without consent. Minors under 18 can get tattooed only with parental/guardian presence and approval.
Washington
- Minimum Age: 18 years old
- State Law: Wash. Code § 26.28.085
- Parental Consent: Illegal to tattoo anyone under 18, even with parental consent.
- Emancipated Minors: Emancipated minors are also prohibited from getting tattoos until 18.
West Virginia
- Minimum Age: None specified, but prohibits tattoos for those under 16.
- State Law: W. Va. Code § 16-38-3
- Parental Consent Required: Minors aged 16 and 17 can get tattoos if a parent/guardian is present, provides written consent and photo ID.
Wisconsin
- Minimum Age: 18 years old
- State Law: Wisc. Admin. Code Ch. SPS 221.10(1)(b)(3)
- Parental Consent: Illegal to tattoo anyone under 18, even with parental consent, unless performed by a physician for medical reasons.
Wyoming
- Minimum Age: 18 years old
- State Law: Wyoming Statute § 14-3-107
- Parental Consent and Presence Required: Minors can get tattooed with parental consent and supervision.
Understanding the Nuances of Tattoo Age Restrictions
As you can see, the legal landscape for tattoos and age is quite varied across the United States. While the majority of states set the minimum age at 18, the conditions and exceptions differ significantly.
Key Takeaways from State Tattoo Laws:
- 18 is the most common minimum age: Most states strictly prohibit tattooing anyone under 18 without exception.
- Parental consent exceptions exist but are not universal: Some states allow minors, typically those 16 or 17, to get tattoos with parental consent. The specifics of this consent (written, notarized, presence required) vary.
- Some states completely ban tattooing minors: States like California, New York, and Massachusetts, among others, have outright bans, even with parental consent.
- Emancipation status is sometimes considered: In a few states, legally emancipated minors may have the same rights as adults regarding tattoos, but this is not consistent across all states and often still defaults to age 18.
- Studio policies can be stricter than state law: Even in states where minors can legally get tattoos with consent, individual tattoo studios may choose to enforce a stricter age policy of 18 for all clients.
Why Do Age Restrictions Exist for Tattoos?
The primary reasons behind age restrictions for tattoos are rooted in legal and ethical considerations:
- Informed Consent: The legal system generally considers individuals under 18 to be minors, who may not have the full capacity to understand and consent to permanent decisions like getting a tattoo.
- Contract Law: Minors typically cannot enter into legally binding contracts. Getting a tattoo involves a contract for service.
- Protection of Minors: Laws aim to protect young people from making decisions they might later regret, particularly concerning body modification that is largely irreversible.
- Health and Safety: While less directly related to age, regulations around tattooing also aim to ensure safe practices and minimize health risks, which are important for all ages but particularly relevant when considering the vulnerability of minors.
Navigating Tattoo Age Laws: Advice for Minors and Parents
If you are under 18 and considering a tattoo, or if you are a parent of a minor who wants one, here’s some practical advice:
For Minors:
- Know the Law in Your State: Start by understanding the specific laws in your state using the guide above and by checking official state resources.
- Talk to Your Parents: If parental consent is a possibility in your state, have an open and honest conversation with your parents or legal guardians.
- Research Tattoo Studios: Even if you are legally able to get a tattoo with consent, research reputable and professional tattoo studios. Inquire about their policies on tattooing minors.
- Consider the Tattoo’s Permanence: Reflect seriously on the long-term implications of getting a tattoo. Choose a design you’ll be happy with for life and consider placement carefully.
- Be Patient: If you are not yet old enough or cannot get parental consent, remember that 18 is not far away. Use this time to further research tattoos, artists, and designs.
For Parents:
- Understand State Laws: Familiarize yourself with the tattoo laws in your state to make informed decisions.
- Have Open Conversations: Talk to your child about their reasons for wanting a tattoo. Understand their motivations and address any concerns.
- Consider Maturity and Responsibility: Assess your child’s maturity level and their understanding of the permanence and responsibility that comes with a tattoo.
- If Consenting, Choose a Reputable Studio Together: If you decide to consent, be involved in selecting a reputable and hygienic tattoo studio. Meet the artist and discuss the procedure together.
- Prioritize Safety and Informed Decisions: Ensure that the focus is on a safe procedure, a responsible decision, and a design that your child will be happy with long-term.
Conclusion: Age and Tattooing – Proceed with Knowledge and Respect
The question “what age can you get a tattoo?” has varying answers across the United States. While 18 is the standard legal age in most states, understanding the nuances of parental consent laws and individual studio policies is crucial. Whether you are approaching tattooing as a minor, a parent, or a tattoo artist, proceeding with knowledge of the laws, respect for studio policies, and a focus on responsible decision-making is paramount. Tattoos are permanent, and ensuring that the decision to get one is made at the right time, and in accordance with the law, is essential for everyone involved.
