Alabama Ala. Code § 22-1-17A Regulation of Tattooing, Branding, and Body Piercing. Prohibits anyone from performing a tattoo, brand or body piercing on a minor unless prior written informed consent is obtained from the minor's parent or legal guardian.

Arizona Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 13-3721 Tattooing and Body Piercing-Establishes that it is unlawful to either tattoo or pierce anyone under age 18 without the physical presence of the parent or legal guardian.

Arkansas Ark. Stat. Ann. §§ 20-27-1501 et seq. Body Piercing, Branding, and Tattooing. Tattoo and permanent cosmetic artists are required to be certified; the law addresses body piercing as a form of body art; requires an annual license fee for a tattoo, body piercing and permanent cosmetic artists/shops.

Arkansas Ark. Stat. Ann. § 5-27-228 Tattooing and Body Piercing-Prohibits anyone from doing "body art" (tattooing, piercing or branding) on a minor without the written consent and presence of one of the minor's parents, a guardian or a custodian.

Alaska Alaska Stat. §08.13 12 AAC 09 specifically govern the practice of barbering, hairdressing, esthetics, tattoo and permanent cosmetic coloring, and body piercing. Alaska Stat. §08.01 - 08.03 and regulations 12 AAC 02 apply to all professions regulated by the division.

Alaska Alaska Stat. §08.13.217 Tattooing-Establishes that it is unlawful to practice tattooing and permanent cosmetic coloring on a minor.

Alaska Body Piercing-Prohibits anyone from practicing body piercing on a minor without prior written approval from the minor’s parent or legal guardian and the presence of the parent or legal guardian during the body piercing procedure.

California Cal. Health & Safety Code § 119300 to 119328 Body Art. The California Conference of Local Health Officers shall establish sterilization, sanitation, and safety standards for persons engaged in the business of tattooing, body piercing, or permanent cosmetics.

California Cal. Penal Code 653 Tattooing-Establishes that it is a misdemeanor for any person to tattoo or offer to tattoo anyone under age 18.

California Body Piercing-Prohibits anyone from performing or offering to perform a piercing upon anyone under age 18 unless the piercing is performed in the presence of a parent or guardian or as directed and notarized by the minor's parent or guardian. Does not apply to emancipated minors and does not include pierces of the ear.

Colorado Colo. Rev. Stat. § 25-4-2101 to 2103 Tattooing and Body Piercing-Prohibits anyone from performing a body art procedure on a minor unless the artist has received express consent from the minor's parent or guardian.

Connecticut Conn. Gen. Stat. §19a-92g Tattooing-Establishes that it is illegal to tattoo an unemancipated minor under age 18 without the permission of the minor's parent or guardian.

Connecticut Department of Public Health does not have jurisdiction over body piercing.

District of Columbia D.C. Code Ann. § 47-2853.76d It is unlawful for a person to perform body art procedures unless the person is licensed by and registered with the Mayor to perform body art procedures. Also establishes that body art procedures are prohibited on persons under 18 years of age, except ear piercing using a mechanized, pre-sterilized single-use stud and ear clasp gun.

Delaware Del. Code Ann. tit. 16, §122(3)(w) Establish standards for the sanitary operation of tattoo parlors and body piercing establishments. For purposes of this paragraph, "tattoo parlor" means a person or business that makes permanent marks on human skin by puncturing the skin and inserting an indelible color or by producing scarring.

Delaware Del. Code Ann. tit. 11, §1114(a) Tattooing and Body Piercing- It is illegal for a person to either knowingly or negligently tattoo or pierce a minor without the prior written consent of the adult parent or legal guardian.

Florida Fla. Stat. §381.075 Regulation of body-piercing salons.

Florida Fla. Stat. §381.0775 et seq. Tattoo establishments; licensure; temporary establishments

Florida Fla. Stat. § 381.00787 Tattooing Prohibited; Penalty. It is unlawful for any person to tattoo the body of any human being; except that tattoing may be performed by a person licensed to practice medicine or dentistry, or by a person under the general supervision as defined by Board of Medicine.

Florida Tattooing-Requires written, notarized consent of a minor's parent or legal guardian in order to tattoo a minor.

Georgia Ga. Code § 31-40-1 to 31-40-10 Tattoo Studios.

Georgia Ga. Code § 16-12-5 Unlawful to tattoo within an inch of the eye socket.

Georgia Ga. Code § 16-5-71.1 Tattooing-Prohibits the tattooing of anyone under age 18 by anyone other than a licensed osteopath or technician acting under the direct supervision of a licensed physician or osteopath.

Hawaii Hawaii Rev. Stat. § 321-13 Tattoo Artist. Sets forth public health requirements for tattoo licensing and operations.

Hawaii Hawaii Rev. Stat. § 321-379 Tattooing of Minors. Tattooing any person under the age of eighteen without the written consent of the person's parent or legal guardian or not maintaining the consent forms in a confidential manner at the tattoo shop for not less than two years

Idaho Idaho Code § 18-1523 (2004) Tattooing and Body Piercing-Prohibits the tattooing, branding or body piercing of minors under the age of 14. Prohibits the tattooing, branding or body piercing of anyone between the ages of 14 and 18 without the written informed consent of the minor's parent or legal guardian. Written informed consent must be executed in the presence of the person performing the act or an employee or agent of that person. Piercing of the earlobes and piercing for medical purposes are exempted from this legislation.

Illinois Ill. Rev. Stat. 410 §54/1 to 54/999 Tattoo and Body Piercing Establishment Registration Act. Provides for public health, safety and welfare requirements for tattoo and body piercing establishments.

Illinois Ill. Rev. Stat. 720 §5/12C-35 Tattooing-It is a Class A misdemeanor for anyone other than a person licensed to practice medicine in all branches to tattoo or offer to tattoo a person under age 18. It is also a Class A misdemeanor to allow a person under 18 years of age to remain on the premises where tattoos are being performed or offered without a parent or legal guardian.

Indiana SECTION 1. IC 25-1-19 Prohibits the act of performing or offering to perform scleral tattooing. Provides an exception for the act of a licensed health care professional when the act is performed in the scope of the health care professional's practice.

Indiana Ind. Code Ann. §16-19-3-4.1 Tattoo and Body Piercing. Provides a guide for the sanitary operations of tattoo and body piercing facilities in Indiana.

Indiana Ind. Code Ann. §35-42-2-7 Tattooing and Body Piercing of a Minor - Requires a minor's parent or legal guardian to be present in order to either tattoo or perform a body piercing on a minor under age 18. Requires the parent or guardian to also provide written permission for the minor to receive the tattoo or piercing.

Iowa Iowa Code §135.37 Tattooing Establishments and Tattoo Artists. Permit and operational requirements for tattooing establishments and tattoo artists.

Iowa Iowa Code §135.37 Tattooing of Minors - Prohibits anyone from tattooing an unmarried minor under age 18.

Kansas Kan. Stat. Ann. §65-1940 to 65-1954 Tattoo, Body Piercing and Cosmetic Tattoo. No person, including a tattoo artist, cosmetic tattoo artist or body piercer, shall perform tattooing, cosmetic tattooing or body piercing on another person, display a sign or in any other way advertise or purport to be a tattoo artist, cosmetic tattoo artist or body piercer unless that person holds a valid license issued by the board.

Kansas Kan. Stat. Ann. §65-1953 Tattooing and Body Piercing of a Minor - Prohibits anyone from performing body piercing, cosmetic tattooing or tattooing on anyone under age 18 without written and notarized consent and presence of the minor’s parent or court-appointed guardian during the procedure. Requires the individual who performs the body piercing to keep a copy of the written permission on file for a period of five years. Violators are guilty of a class A misdemeanor.

Kentucky Ky. Rev. Stat. §194A.050; 211.760 Tattooing. The Department for Public Health, Division of Public Health Food Safety Branch develops the statewide Tattoo, Body Piercing and Ear Piercing Program plans, objectives, policies and procedures and helps local health departments carry out state law. The program registers tattoo artists and body and ear piercers and certify studios.

Kentucky Ky. Rev. Stat. §211.760 Tattooing and Body Piercing of a Minor - Prohibits anyone from tattooing or piercing minors without the written, notarized consent of a parent or guardian.

Louisiana La. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 40:2831 et seq. Commercial Body Art. Each facility engaging in tattooing, body-piercing, or other CBA activities is required to be permitted in accordance with these regulations and each person performing said tasks must be registered with the state.

Louisiana La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §14:93.2 Tattooing and Body Piercing of a Minor - It is unlawful for anyone to tattoo or pierce a minor under age 18 without the consent of the minor's parent or legal custodian, who must accompany them to the procedure.

Maine Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. Title 32 §4201 to 4301 Tattoo Artist. Sets forth public health requirements for tattoo licensing and operations.

Maine Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. Title 32 §4321 to 4329 Body Piercing. A Department of Health and Human Services license is required for any person who practices the art of body piercing, comprising creation of an opening in the body of a human being for the purpose of inserting jewelry or decorations.

Maine Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. Title 32 §4203 Tattooing of a Minor - Establishes that it is illegal to tattoo anyone under age 18.

Maine Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. Title 32 §4323 Body Piercing of a Minor - Requires prior written consent of a minor's parent or legal guardian to perform body piercing on anyone under age 18.

Maryland Code of Md. Regs. 10.06.01.0 Cosmetic Tattooing. Dept of Health and Mental Hygiene prohibits tattooing in salons. Skin-Penetrating Body Adornment Procedures (including tattooing) must protect against infections.

Massachusetts Mass. Gen. Law ch. 111, §31 General Authority. Allows boards of health to promulgate reasonable health regulations.

Massachusetts Model Regulations for Body Art Establishments. Body Art regulations (body piercing, tattooing and branding/scarification) have been drafted and reviewed setting forth a model code for the practice of body art and for the maintenance and operation of body art.

Massachusetts Mass. Gen. Law ch. 112, §2 Tattooing - Tattooing must be performed by a qualified physician.

Michigan Mich. Comp. Laws §333.13101 to 333.13112 Body Art Facilities. Duties of a person who owns or operates a body art facility; Section 333. 13104. Tattooing, branding, or performing body-piercing; licensure of body art facility required; application; form; issuance; duration; fees.

Michigan Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. §333.13102 Tattooing and Body Piercing of a Minor. Prohibits anyone from either tattooing or performing a piercing on a minor without the prior written, informed consent of the minor's parent or legal guardian. Requires the parent or legal guardian to execute the consent in the presence of either the person performing the body piercing or tattooing on the minor or in the presence of an employee or agent of the individual. Does not include emancipated minors.

Minnesota Minn. Stat. §§146B.01 to 146B.10 Body Art. No person acting individually or jointly with any other person may maintain, own, or operate a body art establishment in the state without an establishment license issued by the commissioner.

Minnesota Minn. Stat. §§325F.814 Body Piercing.

Minnesota Minn. Stat. §609.2246 Tattooing of a Minor - It is unlawful for anyone under age 18 to receive a tattoo without written parental consent.

Minnesota Piercing of a Minor - Prohibits a person from body piercing anyone under age 18 unless they have witnessed written parental consent. Violators are guilty of a misdemeanor.

Mississippi Miss. Code Ann. §73-61-1 et seq. Tattooing and Body Piercing. It shall be unlawful for any individual to perform tattooing and/or body piercing upon any person for compensation with the state without possessing a current and valid Certificate of Registration issued by the Department of Health.

Mississippi Miss. Code Ann. §73-61-3 Tattooing and Body Piercing of a Minor - Prohibits anyone from tattooing or piercing a minor under age 18. Violators are guilty of a misdemeanor and will be fined a maximum of $500.

Missouri Mo. Rev. Stat. §324.520 to 324.526 Occupations and Professions. No practitioner of tattooing, body piercing or branding shall practice and no establishment in which tattoos, body piercing or brandings are applied shall be operated without a license issued by the director of the division of professional registration.

Missouri Mo. Rev. Stat. §324.520 Tattooing and Body Piercing of a Minor. Prohibits anyone from knowingly tattooing or piercing a minor without prior written, informed consent of the minor's parent or legal guardian. Requires the parent or legal guardian to execute the written consent in the presence of either the person performing the tattooing or body piercing or an employee or agent of that person. Violators are guilty of a misdemeanor and will be fined a maximum of $500. Subsequent violations within one year of the initial violation will be subject to a fine of between $500 and $1,000.

Montana Mont. Code Ann. §§50-48-101 to 110; §§50-48-201 to 209 Tattooing and body piercing. The regulation of tattooing and body piercing establishments is required to protect public health and safety.

Montana Mont. Code Ann. §45-5-623 Tattooing of a Minor - Prohibits anyone from knowingly tattooing or piercing a child under the age of majority without the explicit in-person consent of the child's parent or guardian.

Montana Upon conviction, violators will be either fined a maximum of $500, imprisoned for up to six months, or both. Those convicted of a second offense will either be fined a maximum of $1,000, imprisoned for up to six months, or both.

Nebraska Neb. Rev. Stat. § 38-1001 to 38-10,171 Cosmetology, Electrology, Esthetics, Nail Technology and Body Art - Combines tattooing and piercing as one practice called "body art." Requires licensure by the Department of Cosmetology, Electrology, Esthetics, Nail Technology, and Body Art Practice Act.

Nebraska Performing Body Art on a minor - Defines unprofessional conduct for licensing purposes as, in part, knowingly performing body art on a person under 18 years of age without prior written consent of the person's parent or court-appointed guardian.

Nevada State of Nevada does not regulate tattoo or piercing shops. Clark County (Las Vegas) does have an ordinance on tattooing.

New Hampshire Duties. N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 314-A:1 tp 314-A:13 Body Art. It shall be unlawful for any person to practice body piercing, branding, or tattooing without a license. Requires the licensure and regulation of body art practitioners, electrologists, massage therapists, and ophthalmic dispensers, including establishing a facility license for body piercing, branding, or tattooing facilities.

New Hampshire N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 314-A:8 Body Piercing on a Minor. Prohibits performing a body piercing on a person under the age of 18 without consent of that person’s parent or legal guardian. Requires the consenting individual to be physically present at the time of piercing, to provide evidence of status as parent or legal guardian, and to sign a document that provides informed consent. Requires consent records be maintained for at least 7 years.

New Jersey N.J. Stat. Ann. §26-1A-7 State Sanitary Code

New Jersey N.J.A.C. 8:27-1 et seq. Body Art Procedures. Establishes sterilization, sanitation, and safety standards for persons engaged in the business of tattooing, permanent cosmetics, and ear and body piercing in order to protect the public's health.

New Jersey N.J. Stat. Ann. §2C:40-21 Tattooing and body piercing of minors - Requires prior written permission of a minor’s parent or legal guardian to tattoo or perform body piercing on anyone under the age of 18.

New Mexico N.M. Stat. Ann. § 61-17B-1 et seq. Body Art Safe Practices Act. The purpose of the Body Art Safe Practices Act is to provide a safe and healthy environment for the administration of body art.

New Mexico N.M. Administrative Code 16.36.2 et seq. Body Art Licensing Requirements - training and licensing is required for tattooing, piercing, scarification and other forms of body art. Establishments must be licensed.

New York N.Y. Public Health Law §460-466 Regulation of Body Piercing and Tattooing.

New York N.Y. Public Health Law § 460A; N.Y. Penal Law § 260.21 Tattooing of a Minor - It is unlawful to tattoo the body of a child less than 18 years old. Any person who does so is guilty of unlawfully dealing with a child in the second degree, a class B misdemeanor.

North Carolina N.C. Gen. Stat. §130A-283 Tattooing regulated. No person shall engage in tattooing without first obtaining a tattooing permit from the Department. Licensed physicians, as well as physician assistants and nurse practitioners working under the supervision of a licensed physician, who perform tattooing within the normal course of their professional practice, are exempt from the requirements of this Part.

North Carolina N.C. Gen. Stat. §14-400 Tattooing; body piercing of a minor prohibited.

North Dakota N.D. Cent. Code §23-01-35 Tattooing, body piercing, branding, subdermal implants, or scarification--Adoption of Rules.

North Dakota N.D. Cent. Code §12.1-31-13 Tattooing, branding, subdermal implants, scarifying and piercing of a Minor. Prohibits the piercing or tattooing of a minor without the presence and consent of the parent. It is also a Class B misdemeanor to sell tattooing or piercing equipment to a minor.

Ohio Ohio Rev. Code Ann. §3730.01 to 3730.99 Tattooing or Body Piercing Services.

Ohio Ohio Rev. Code Ann. §3730.06 to 3730.08 Tattooing and Body Piercing of a Minor - It is illegal to tattoo, body pierce or pierce the ears of anyone under age 18 without the consent of the minor's parent, guardian or custodian. Requires the consenting individual to appear in person at the business at the time the procedure is performed and sign a document that provides informed consent.

Oklahoma Okla. Stat. tit. 21 §842.1 to 842.3 Body Art - All body piercing operators, tattoo operators and artists shall be prohibited from performing body piercing or tattooing unless licensed in the appropriate category by the State Department of Public Health.

Oregon Or. Rev. Stat. §690.350 et seq.; Or. Rev. Stat. §690.401 to 410 Body Art Practitioners. Board of Body Art Practitioners. Requires licensing and certification of practitioners by the Office of Health Licensing.

Oregon Or. Rev. Stat. §679.500 Permits dentists to administer local anesthesia for people seeking permanent lip color from a licensed tattoo artist.

Pennsylvania Pa. Cons. Stat. tit.18 §6311 Tattooing and Body Piercing of a Minor - It is unlawful to provide tattoo or body piercing services to anyone under age 18 without the consent of the parent or guardian who is present at the time of the procedure.

Rhode Island R.I. Gen. Laws §23-1-39 Tattooing and Body Piercing- The director shall promulgate rules and regulations which provide minimum requirements to be met by any person performing tattooing and/or body piercing upon any individual and for any establishment where tattooing and/or body piercing is performed. These requirements shall include, but not be limited to, general sanitation of premises wherein tattooing and/or body piercing is to be performed and sterilization of instruments.

South Carolina S.C. Code Ann. §44-34-10 to 44-34-110 Tattooing - The Department of Health and Environmental Control must establish by regulation sterilization, sanitation, and safety standards for persons engaged in the business of tattooing. The department must provide the necessary resources to support the development of these standards. The standards must be directed at establishment and maintenance of sterile conditions and safe disposal of instruments. The standards may be modified in accordance with the Administrative Procedures Act as appropriate to protect consumers from transmission of contagious diseases through cross-contamination of instruments and supplies.

South Carolina S.C. Code Ann. §44-34-60 Tattooing. Prohibits tattooing anyone under the age of 21. If a person is at least 18, they may get a tattoo with parental consent.

South Carolina S.C. Code Ann. §44-32-10 to 44-32-120 Body Piercing - The Department of Health and Environmental Control shall establish sterilization, sanitation, and safety standards for persons engaged in the business of body piercing. The department shall provide the necessary resources to support the development of these standards. The standards must be directed at establishment and maintenance of sterile conditions and safe disposal of instruments. The standards may be modified as appropriate to protect consumers from the transmission of contagious diseases through cross-contamination of instruments and supplies.

South Carolina S.C. Code Ann. §44-32-60 Body Piercing Facility. Prohibits anyone from performing body piercing on an individual under age 18.

South Dakota S.D. Codified Laws §9-34-17 Tattooing and body piercing. Any municipality may regulate the practice of tattooing and body piercing by licensing tattoo artists and practitioners of body piercing, inspecting tattoo and body piercing establishments, and establishing standards for sanitation that are at least as stringent as those adopted by the Department of Health

South Dakota S.D. Codified Laws Ann. §26-10-19 Tattooing of a Minor - Requires anyone who is tattooing a minor under age 18 to obtain a signed consent form from the minor's parents authorizing the tattoo.

Tennessee Tenn. Code Ann. §§62-38-201 to 62-38-212; §§62-38-301 to 62-38-310 Tattoos and Body Piercing.

Tennessee Tenn. Code Ann. §§62-38-211; 62-38-305 Tattooing of minors; Body Piercing of minors; consent required. Minors age 16 or older may be tattooed with the written consent of their parent or legal guardian to cover up an existing tattoo and requires the parent or legal guardian to be present during the procedure.

Texas Texas Health and Safety Code Ann. §146.001 et seq. Tattoo and Certain Body Piercing Studios. A person may not conduct, operate, or maintain a tattoo studio unless the person holds a license issued by the department to operate the tattoo studio.

Texas Texas Health and Safety Code Ann. §§146.012; 146.124; 146.125 Tattooing and Body Piercing on a Minor Prohibited; exceptions. Prohibits anyone from performing a tattoo or body piercing on a person under age 18 without the consent of a parent or guardian who believes it is in the best interest of the minor to cover an obscene or offensive tattoo.

Utah Utah Code Ann. §76-10-2201 Tattooing and Body Piercing of a Minor. Prohibits anyone from performing or offering to perform a tattoo or body piercing upon a minor without receiving the consent of the minor's parent or legal guardian. Establishes that a person is not guilty of a violation if he or she had no actual knowledge of the minor's age and reviewed, recorded and maintained a personal identification number for the minor prior to performing the body piercing or tattoo.

Vermont Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 26, §4101 to 4109 Tattooists and Body Piercers. Prohibits anyone from tattooing a minor without the written consent of his or her parent or guardian.

Virginia Va. Code §54.1-700 et seq. Board of Barbers and Cosmetology

Virginia Va. Code §15.2-912 Regulation of tattoo parlors and body-piercing salons. Any locality may by ordinance regulate the sanitary condition of the personnel, equipment and premises of tattoo parlors and body-piercing salons and specify procedures for enforcement of compliance with the disease control and disclosure requirements of § 18.2-371.3.

Virginia Va. Code §18.2-371.3. Tattooing and Body Piercing of a Minor - Prohibits anyone from tattooing or performing body piercing on a person under age 18, knowing or having reason to believe that the person is under 18 except in the presence of the person's parent or guardian or when done by or under the supervision of a medical doctor, registered nurse, or other medical services personnel in the performance of their duties. Excludes ear piercing as a form of body piercing.

Washington Wash. Rev. Code §70.54.320 to 70.54.350 Electrology, body art, body piercing, and tattooing. The secretary of health shall adopt by rule requirements, in accordance with nationally recognized professional standards, for precautions against the spread of disease, including the sterilization of needles and other instruments, including sharps and jewelry, employed by electrologists, persons engaged in the practice of body art, body piercing, and tattoo artists. The secretary shall consider the standard precautions for infection control, as recommended by the United States centers for disease control, and guidelines for infection control, as recommended by national industry standards in the adoption of these sterilization requirements.

Washington Wash. Rev. Code § 18.300; 18.300.005 to 18.300.902 Body Art, Body Piercing, and Tattooing.

Washington Wash. Rev. Code § 246-145-001 to 060 Body Art, Body Piercing, Electrology and Tattooing Standards for Sterilization Procedures and Infection Control. These rules establish standard universal precautions for preventing the spread of diseases by using sterilization procedures and infection control in the practices of electrology, body art, body piercing, and tattooing.

Washington Wash. Rev. Code §26.28.085 Tattooing of a Minor - Applying a tattoo to a minor under age 18 is illegal and violators are guilty of a misdemeanor.

West Virginia W. Va. Code §16-38-1 to 38-7 Tattoo Studio Business.

West Virginia W. Va. Code §16-37-1 to Body Piercing Studio Business.

West Virginia W. Va. Code §16-38-3 Tattooing of a Minor - Requires prior written consent from a parent or guardian for the tattooing of a minor.

Wisconsin Wis. Stat. §463.10 Regulation of Tattooists. Department of Health Services shall provide uniform, statewide licensing and regulation of tattooists and uniform, statewide licensing and regulation of tattoo establishments under this section. The department shall inspect a tattoo establishment once before issuing a license for the tattoo establishment under this section and may make additional inspections that the department determines are necessary.

Wisconsin Wis. Stat. §948.70 Tattooing of a Minor - Prohibits anyone other than a physician in the course of his or her professional practice from tattooing or offering to tattoo a child (under age 18).