STATE | STATUS | |
| Alabama | RegulatedState | Licensing and Facility Inspection Under Department of Health Services tattooing of minors is prohibited; blood borne pathogen training program required |
| Alaska | Regulated State | Sec. 08.13.217. Tattooing or body piercing on a minor. (a) A person may not practice tattooing on a minor. (b) A person may not practice body piercing on a minor without prior written permission from the minor's parent or legal guardian and the presence of the parent or legal guardian during the body piercing procedure. The person who performs the body piercing shall keep a copy of the written permission on file for at least three years. |
| Arizona | Regulated State | HB 2666-441-H (Revising Title 32) Permanent Makeup is regulated separately from tattooing; tattooing of minors is prohibited; It is unlawful for a person to engage in the business of tattooing out of a home... |
| Arkansas | Regulated State | Regulated separately for body tattooing; tattooing of minors is prohibited |
| California | Regulated State | AB 186 requires registration with county health dept and facility inspection. tattooing of minors is prohibited |
| Delaware | Regulated State | Tattooing of minors is prohibited |
| Colorado | Regulated State | Licensing under the State Board of Cosmetology; Permanent Makeup is regulated separately from tattooing 25-4-2103. Parental consent for minors. NO BODY ARTIST SHALL PERFORM A BODY ART PROCEDURE UPON A MINOR UNLESS THE BODY ARTIST HAS RECEIVED EXPRESS CONSENT FROM THE MINOR'S PARENT OR GUARDIAN. FAILURE TO OBTAIN SUCH PERMISSION BEFORE PERFORMING BODY ART PROCEDURES ON A MINOR SHALL CONSTITUTE A PETTY OFFENSE PUNISHABLE BY A FINE OF TWO HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS. |
| Connecticut | Regulated State | tattooing under the supervision of a physician and regulated by the Dept of Health Procedures• Facial tattoos may only be done by licensed physicians • Injection of chemicals into the skin by tattoo artists to remove tattoos is illegal • Customers must be sober • Signed consent forms required • Parental consent forms required for minors • Artists must keep records on every customer for at least 2 years • Oral care instructions required • Acetate stencils must be sanitized |
| Florida | Regulated State | permitted under general endorsement of MD, DDS or DC. 877.04; tattooing of minors under age 16 is not legal |
| Georgia | Regulated State | state statue prohibits tattooing within 1" of eye; tattooing of minors is prohibited; licensure required by department of health |
| Hawaii | Regulated State | Requires exam, license & registration and with physician supervision tattooing of minors is prohibited |
| Illinois | Regulated State | tattooing of minors is prohibited |
| Idaho | Regulated State | Parental consent is required for tattooing, branding and body piercing of any person under the age of eighteen (18) years. No tattooing, branding or body piercing may occur on any person under the age of fourteen (14) years. Piercing of the ear lobes and piercing for medical purposes are exempted from this legislation. Penalty for violation is an enhanced misdemeanor with additional penalty for subsequent violation withing one year. SENATE BILL NO. 1281 |
| Iowa | Regulated State | regulated by Public Health Dept.; tattooing of minors prohibited |
| Indiana | Regulated State | Senate Enrolled Act 13;tattooing of minors is prohibited |
| Kansas | Regulated State | regulated by state board of cosmetology; tattooing of minors is prohibited; licensure and training must be approved by board of cosmetology |
| Kentucky | Regulated State | tattooing of minors is prohibited |
| Louisiana | Regulated State | A. It is unlawful for any person to tattoo any other person under the age of eighteen without the consent of the parents of such person.B. It is unlawful for any business entity to pierce the body of any person under the age of eighteen without the consent of a parent or legal custodian of such person. Licensed by Department of Health |
| Maine | Regulated State | Micropigmentation Regulated separately from body tattooing tattooing of minors is prohibited;certification by the AAM required |
| Maryland | Regulated State | Regulated by Board of Cosmetology; cosmetic tattooing is illegal and prohibited in a beauty salon. |
| Massachusetts | Regulated State | state of Massachusetts has legalized tattooing and classified Permanent Makeup under Body Art. Each city in Massachusetts will have their own restrictions through the Board of Health. Board of Health in Cambridge requires AAM certification; For more information you can contact Marie Eileen O'Neil AC 617 624-5280, |
| Michigan | Regulated State | tattooing of minors is prohibited; facility license required with Dept. of Health |
| Minnesota | Regulated State | tattooing of minors is prohibited; tattooists are not regulated by State government in Minnesota. Tattooists may be regulated by city or county agencies. |
| Mississippi | Regulated State | registration and licensure governed by Dept. of Health |
| Missouri | Regulated State | HB343 tattooing of minors is prohibited ; licensure required |
| Montana | Regulated State | tattooing of minors is prohibited; regulated by health board with physician director |
| Nebraska | Regulated State | tattooing of minors is prohibited |
| Nevada | Regulated State | Tattoo artists must be licensed by the city in which they live. The regulations are set by the county where the technician resides.Clark County currently has strigent regulations on health permits and inspections. Washoe county requires a license from district health department for "invasive body decoration establishments". |
| NewHampshire | Regulated State | distinguishes tattooing and cosmetic tattooing; Tattooing of minors is prohibited. Photo ID is required. |
| New Jersey | Regulated State | Tattooing of minors is prohibited. Photo ID is required. New Jersey has adopted new codes for tattooing, permanent makeup and piercing. Certification by the AAM required |
| New Mexico | Unregulated State | no legislation only statutes for animals |
| New York | Regulated State | new regulations have been proposed. As of 1999 tattooing is now LEGAL in New York City; tattooing of minors is prohibited |
| North Carolina | Regulated State | Requires annual permit, tattoo removal prohibited -. Some local prohibition (Wake Co.); tattooing of minors is prohibited and is considered a felony |
| North Dakota | Unregulated State | only regulations on tattoo equipment |
| Ohio | Regulated State | OHIO Code Regulated by the State Board of Health . Tattooing of minors is prohibited |
| Oklahoma | Regulated State | House Bill 1964 has been passed & signed by governor: tattooing only by licensed medical practitioners in course of practice until new guidelines are placed into action as mentioned in HB1964 |
| Oregon | Regulated State | Requires 368 hrs. Training at state approved school, written exam. DDS authorized to give anesthesia injections for lip procedures tattooing of minors is prohibited |
| Pennsylvania | Regulated State | tattooing of minors is prohibited; new restrictive codes; illegal for cosmetologist to provide permanent makeup in salon according to the State Board of Cosmetology |
| Rhode Island | Regulated State | 2000 Legislation The director of Dept of Health shall promulgate rules and regulations which provide minimum requirements; tattooing of minors is prohibited |
| South Carolina | Regulated State | Tattooing has been voted in South Carolina. Click here for the state laws |
| South Dakota | Regulated State | tattooing of minors is prohibited |
| Tennessee | Regulated State | Requires 1 yr. Apprenticeship with tattoo artist that has been licensed with the state for min. 3 yrs., registration with local health dept., inspection, and permit. Tattoo removal prohibited. tattooing of minors is prohibited |
| Texas | Regulated State | Sterilization Standards under the Health Department. SB 1812; tattooing of minors is prohibited |
| Utah | Regulated State | tattooing of minors is prohibited; some regulations by County Local Ordinances only: Toole County, Salt Lake City |
| Vermont | Regulated State | registration requirements under the office of professional regulations 3 year experience as tattooist required; tattooing of minors is illegal |
| Virginia | Regulated State | tattooing of minors is prohibited; Study of tattooing safety by Department of Health 2001 |
| Washington DC | Unregulated District | none presently; no licensure required |
| Washington | Regulated State | HOUSE BILL 1042 pending approval by governor. new standards for tattooing. If you know regulations in Washington, please let us know |
| West Virginia | Regulated State | Tattooing of minors is prohibited; business registration certificate & register with their local or regional board of health |
| Wisconsin | Regulated State | Tattooing of minors under 18 is prohibited; regulated by Department of Health; The practice of medicine and surgery is further defined not to include tattooing and body piercing when done for purposes of bodily adornment ( Dec 1999). |
| Wyoming | Regulated State | State of Wyoming tattooing of minors under age 18 is prohibited; unless emancipated minor |