Tattoo

How Old Do You Have To Be To Get Tattoos in America

by Camille Anders on Sep 16, 2024

How old do you have to be to get tattoos? While the legal age for tattoo in the US is 18, that doesn't mean everyone waits until then to get inked. Some people get their first tattoos when they're much younger. If you're considering getting a tattoo, here's what you need to know about the minimum age to get a tattoo.

What is the Youngest Age To Get a Tattoo in America?

What is the Youngest Age You Can Get a Tattoo

The legal age for getting a tattoo in the United States is 18. At this age, you will not need to get permission from your parents, sign extra consent papers, have your age confirmed, or be concerned about breaching state laws.

Every state has laws limiting body art and body alteration on minors, and there are sometimes extra municipal regulations.

There is no technical limit to how the youngest person to get a tattoo.

Tattooing on juveniles is legal in 38 states with an informed parental agreement or the presence of the parent. However, this does not imply that a newborn may just crawl in and acquire a tattoo.

For safety and liability reasons, most tattoo artists will not tattoo anybody under 15 or 16.

So, why does the government care what age someone gets tattooed?

Can American Parents Sign Consent For Minors To Get A Tattoo?

Parents may offer their underage children formal permission to have a tattoo in several areas. They may be required to sign a permission document at the tattoo shop and may even be required to be present during the process.

You may be required to produce identification and evidence of guardianship from your parent or legal guardian.

It's usually a good idea to ask the tattoo artist or facility what documentation you'll need to bring.

How To Give Consent for Tattoos in America

State regulations mandate notarizing permission documents to confirm that the legal guardians are signing them.

Contacting the tattoo artist ahead of time is essential to see what kind of permission they would accept. Some may want that you come to the tattoo shop to sign the documentation in their presence, while others may insist that you remain for the whole operation.

If you provide written permission, you may be required to record what you agree to. For example, you may need to specify which tattoos your adolescent is permitted to get and where the tattoo will be performed.

Age Limit For Tattooing and Body Piercing by State in America?

Many states have strict tattooing and body piercing rules for teens or children, although not all. Ear piercing, for example, is permissible for kids, but only with the parent's approval and present throughout the piercing procedure.

So, for you to be as educated as possible, we'll look through each state's legislation and examine what the current regulations need for tattooing and body piercing in adolescents and teens.

It should be noted that licensed doctors perform tattooing for medical purposes, and the reasons often include medical marks inserted for radiation treatment.

Arkansas

Tattoos and body piercings are legal for young individuals aged 18 and over.
It is against the law to execute any operations on a minor.
The criteria for ear piercing are not established.

California

Tattoos are permitted for young people aged 18 and over, and body piercing is permitted.
During the process, a parent or guardian must be present.
Minors with parental approval may have their ears pierced.
Tattooing or piercing of the genital region or nipples is not permitted.

North Dakota

There is no minimum age requirement.
Both parents/guardians must provide written approval and be present throughout the operation.
There is no information for minors who want to have their ears pierced.

Ohio

There is no minimum age requirement.
Both parents/guardians must provide written approval and be present throughout the operation.
Minors cannot have their ears pierced unless they have parental/guardian authorization and are present throughout the process.

Oklahoma

Tattoos and body piercings are permitted for young individuals aged 18 and over.
Minors are not permitted to be tattooed unless they have documented and signed parental/guardian agreement, and both must be present throughout the surgery.
Oklahoma law does not prohibit ear piercing. However, scleral tattooing is prohibited.

Oregon

Tattoos and body piercings are permitted for young individuals aged 18 and over.
A parent/guardian must give written approval and proof of identification for body piercings.
Minors may be tattooed with the permission of a doctor.

Pennsylvania

There is no minimum age requirement.
Minors are not permitted to be tattooed unless they have documented and signed parental/guardian agreement, and both must be present throughout the surgery.
There is no information on minors or ear piercings.

Rhode Island

Tattoos and body piercings are permitted for young individuals aged 18 and over.
Minors cannot be tattooed, although they may have their ears pierced with the agreement of a parent or guardian.

Delaware

Tattoos and body piercings are legal for young individuals aged 18 and over.
For a particular operation, notarized written permission was required.
There are no laws governing minors or ear piercing.

Florida

Is it illegal to get a tattoo at 16? Tattoos and body piercings are legal for young people aged 16 and above.
A parent/guardian must present proof of guardianship, picture ID, and notarized permission.
Piercing for medical and dental reasons is permissible if done by a physician or dentist.

Georgia

Tattoos are permitted for young people aged 18 and over, and body piercing is permitted.
Body piercing operations need written parental/guardian authorization.
Minors may get their ears pierced without the agreement of their parents.

Indiana

There is no minimum age requirement.
A parent or guardian must be present and give written permission during the operation.
Minors may get their ears pierced without the agreement of their parents.

Iowa

Tattoos and body piercings are legal for young individuals aged 18 and over.
Tattooing is not permitted on minors.
Minors may get their ears pierced without the agreement of their parents.

Nevada

There is no information provided.
Tattoos, piercings, and other body art are not prohibited under Nevada law. Regional health districts may regulate these practices.

New Hampshire

Tattoos and body piercings are permitted for young individuals aged 18 and over.
A parent/guardian must sign a written permission form and be present throughout the piercing surgery.
Minors are not permitted to be tattooed or branded, although they may have their ears pierced without parental authorization.

New Jersey

Tattoos and body piercings are legal for young people aged 16 and above.
Both procedures need written parental/guardian consent.
Minors may have their ears pierced with parental permission and present.

New Mexico

There is no minimum age requirement.
Both parents/guardians must provide written approval and be present throughout the operation.
Ear piercings and medical treatments performed by qualified doctors are excluded.

New York

Tattoos and body piercings are legal for young individuals aged 18 and over.
Minors are not permitted to be tattooed unless they have documented and signed parental/guardian agreement, and both must be present throughout the surgery.
Minors may get their ears pierced without parental permission.

Kansas

Tattoos and body piercings are legal for young people aged 16 and above.
A parent or guardian must provide written, signed permission and be present throughout the operation.
Minors may get their ears pierced without the agreement of their parents.

Kentucky

There is no minimum age requirement.
Written, notarized permission from a parent or guardian is required.
Ear piercing also needs notarized, written permission.

Alaska

Tattoos and body piercings are legal for young individuals aged 18 and over.
A parent or guardian must sign a permission form and be present throughout the operation.
Minors may have their ears pierced with parental permission.

Arizona

The minimum age is not defined, although a parent or guardian must witness the process.
Minors may have their ears pierced with written or verbal agreement from their parents or guardians.

Colorado

With the documented parental agreement, young individuals aged 18 and above may receive a tattoo or a body piercing.
During the process, a parent or guardian must be present.

Minnesota

Tattoos may be obtained by young individuals aged 18 and above.
Body piercings for young adults need the presence of a parent or guardian and their agreement.
Minors are not permitted to get genital or nipple tattoos or piercings.
Subdermal implantation, tongue bifurcation, and general body alteration are all restricted for minors.

Missouri

There is no minimum age requirement.
A parent/guardian must provide a written agreement and be present throughout the process for both tattoos and piercings.
There is no information for minors who want to have their ears pierced.

Montana

There is no minimum age requirement.
A parent or guardian must provide "explicit," "in-person" permission and be present throughout the operation.
There is no information for minors who want to have their ears pierced.

Nebraska

Tattoo laws in nebraska

There is no minimum age requirement.
A parent or guardian must sign a permission form and be present throughout the operation.
Piercing does not involve the ear's exterior components.

Alabama

There is no minimum age requirement.
For body piercing, minors must have an informed, written agreement from their parents or guardians, signed in the presence of the tattoo artist or service provider.
Body art regulations and restrictions in Alabama do not apply to ear piercing.

Connecticut

There is no minimum age requirement.
A parent or guardian's permission is necessary.
Minors may get their ears pierced without the agreement of their parents.

District of Columbia

Tattoos are permitted for young people aged 18 and over, and body piercing is permitted.
It is necessary to have written parental/guardian permission.
Minors with parental approval may have their ears pierced.

North Carolina (NC)

Tattoos and body piercings are permitted for young individuals aged 18 and over.
Even with parental/guardian permission, minors cannot be tattooed.
Minors may get their ears pierced without parental permission.

Hawaii

There is no minimum age requirement.
Written parental/guardian approval is necessary for tattooing and body piercing operations.

Idaho

Tattoos and body piercings are legal for young adults aged 14 and above.
Parental/guardian permission must be written and informed, and a parent/guardian must be present throughout the operation.
Minors may have their ears pierced without parental permission.

Illinois

Tattoos are permitted for young people aged 18 and over, and body piercing is permitted.
Body piercings need written parental/guardian authorization.
Minors may get their ears pierced without the agreement of their parents or guardians.

Louisiana

Tattoos and body piercings are legal for young people aged 16 and above.
A parent or guardian must obtain written authorization and be present for tattoos but not body piercings during the operation.
The age restriction and parental authorization for minors having ear piercings are not mentioned.

Massachusetts

Young individuals above 18 may obtain a tattoo or a body piercing, except for the genital region.
A parent may provide identification and sign the permission paperwork for piercings other than the genital.
Ear piercings may be performed on minors without parental authorization.

Michigan

There is no minimum age requirement.
A parent/guardian must offer written, informed permission and be present throughout the process for body piercing and tattoos.
The age restriction and parental permission are not mentioned in cases of children having ear piercings.

Maine

Tattoos are permitted for young people aged 18 and over, and body piercing is permitted.
Body piercings need the legal approval of a parent or guardian.
Minors may get their ears pierced without the agreement of their parents or guardians.

Maryland

There is no mention of the minimum age.
Body piercing and tattoos for young people need formal parental/guardian authorization that must be kept for three years.
Minors may get their ears pierced without parental permission.

South Carolina

Tattoos and body piercings are permitted for young individuals aged 18 and over.
Tattooing is not permitted on minors. They are permitted to have their ears pierced if a parent or guardian has supplied written, notarized permission and is present throughout the process.
Tattoos on the head, face, and neck are prohibited.

South Dakota

There is no minimum age requirement.
A parent/guardian must sign a permission form for tattoos and body piercings.
There is no information on minors or ear piercings.

Utah

There is no minimum age requirement.
A parent or guardian must provide written consent, provide confirmation of identification, and be present throughout the operation.
Minors may get their ears pierced without the agreement of their parents or guardians.

Vermont

There is no minimum age requirement.
There is no other information available.

Virginia

There is no minimum age requirement.
During the process, a parent or guardian must be present.
Minors may get their ears pierced without their parents' or guardians' approval or presence.

Washington

Tattoos and body piercings are permitted for young individuals aged 18 and over.
It is against the law to tattoo a minor.
There is no other information available.

West Virginia

There is no minimum age requirement.
A parent or guardian must offer written permission.

Wisconsin

Can you get a tattoo under 18? Tattoos and body piercings are permitted for young individuals aged 18 and over.
Tattooing is not authorized for minors under the age of 18.
A physician may perform tattooing and piercing as part of their professional practice.

Wyoming

There is no minimum age requirement.
A parent or guardian must provide verbal approval and be present throughout the operation.
Procedures performed under the guidance of a qualified physician do not qualify as body art under Wyoming law.

Tennessee

Tattoos and body piercings are permitted for young individuals aged 18 and over.
A parent/guardian must offer written authorization and be present during the process for tattoos that cover an existing tattoo or piercings.
Minors over the age of 16 may acquire a tattoo to cover up an existing tattoo with the permission of their parents or guardians.

Texas

Tattoos and body piercings are permitted for young individuals aged 18 and over.
A parent/guardian must offer written authorization and be present during the process for tattoos that cover an existing tattoo or piercings.
Body piercing laws and statutes do not apply to ear piercing.

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Tattooing and Piercing – Age Limit Tattoo in European Countries

Tattooing and Piercing – Age Limit in European Countries

If you are interested in the state legislation and regulations for tattooing and piercing in European nations, we have also supplied the necessary information;

Young people aged 16 and above may obtain a tattoo or a body piercing in several countries, including Austria, Croatia, Cyprus, Germany, France, Ireland, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, and the Netherlands. In most circumstances, parental written authorization and parental attendance during the surgery are necessary.

In the remainder of Europe, young individuals aged 18 and above may receive a tattoo or a body piercing. In certain situations, parental consent is necessary, and tattoos on the head, neck, and hands are prohibited (in Denmark, for example).

Ear piercing is prohibited for kids in the majority of nations. However, parental consent is essential.

Tattoos and body piercings are legal in Spain for young individuals between the ages of 14 and 17. The maximum age varies per area.

FAQ

Can You Get A Tattoo At 15 With Parental Consent?

Most jurisdictions allow people under 18 to have tattoos with the approval of a parent or guardian. However, other states ban tattooing at any age, except for medical necessity (such as markings for radiation therapy).

What States Can You Get A Tattoo At 16?

There is no federal legislation in the United States that governs tattooing. However, all 50 states and the District of Columbia have legislative rules requiring tattoo recipients to be at least 18 years old.

Is 30 Too Old To Get A Tattoo?

If and when you decide you're too old for a tattoo, you're too old to have one. Getting a tattoo is not confined to young people; anybody of any age may have a tattoo. You should not be concerned since it is not limited to young adults.

Can a 13-Year-Old Get a Tattoo?

Getting a tattoo at the age of 13 year olds with tattoos is neither common nor simple.

Many states require minors to be tattooed by or in the presence of a qualified physician.

With documented parental approval, a 13-year-old may legally acquire a tattoo in 22 states (mentioned above). In addition to completing a permission document, kids must have their parent or guardian present when they are tattooed.

This is for the minor's and the tattoo artist's protection. However, just because state law allows it does not guarantee that a tattoo artist would consent to tattoo a 13-year-old.

Regardless of permission, most tattoo artists will refuse anybody under 15. Even with parental agreement, tattooing a kid is a felony in several jurisdictions. Tattoos are permanent, and many consider that kids are not old enough to make educated judgments.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there is no definitive answer to how old someone must be to get a tattoo. It ultimately comes down to the individual's personal preference and discretion. Restorbio hope you found this article beneficial and thanks for reading!

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