Tattoo Laws by State 2025

Alabama
18
Alaska
18
Arizona
18
Arkansas
18
California
18
Colorado
18
Connecticut
18
Delaware
18
District of Columbia
18
Florida
18
Georgia
18
Hawaii
18
Idaho
18
Illinois
18
Indiana
18
Iowa
18
Kansas
18
Kentucky
18
Louisiana
18
Maine
18
Maryland
18
Massachusetts
18
Michigan
18
Minnesota
18
Mississippi
18
Missouri
18
Montana
18
Nebraska
18
New Hampshire
18
New Mexico
18
New York
18
North Carolina
18
North Dakota
18
Ohio
18
Oklahoma
18
Oregon
18
Pennsylvania
18
Rhode Island
18
South Carolina
18
South Dakota
18
Tennessee
18
Texas
18
Utah
18
Vermont
18
Virginia
18
Washington
18
West Virginia
18
Wisconsin
18
Wyoming
18
New Jersey
16
State
Minimum Age to Receive Tattoo
Legal Restrictions
Requirements for Underaged Patrons
Class of Crime if Violated
Alabama Flag
Alabama18Patron may not be intoxicated or otherwise impaired
  • Written consent from parent/guardian
Class C misdemeanor
Alaska Flag
Alaska18None
  • Parent/guardian must attend tattooing session
Class B misdemeanor
Arizona Flag
Arizona18None
  • Parent/guardian must attend tattooing session
Class 6 felony
Arkansas Flag
Arkansas18Patron may not be intoxicated or otherwise impaired
  • Parent/guardian must attend tattooing session
Class A misdemeanor
California Flag
California18None
  • Parent/guardian must attend tattooing session
Misdemeanor
Colorado Flag
Colorado18Patron may not be intoxicated or otherwise impaired
  • Parent/guardian must attend tattooing session
Petty offense
Connecticut Flag
Connecticut18Tattooing may only be performed by physicians, or by registered nurses & technicians working under the supervision of a physician.
  • Written consent from parent/guardian
Delaware Flag
Delaware18Patron may not be intoxicated or otherwise impaired
  • Notarized written consent from parent/guardian
Class B misdemeanor Class A misdemeanor (2nd offense onward)
District of Columbia Flag
District of Columbia18None
  • Written consent from parent/guardian
Florida Flag
Florida18None
  • Ages 16-17: Written consent from legal guardian,
  • Under 16: Prohibited
Misdemeanor of the second degree
Georgia Flag
Georgia18Unlawful to tattoo within an inch of the eye socket
  • Written consent from parent/guardian
Misdemeanor
Hawaii Flag
Hawaii18None
  • Written consent from parent/guardian
Misdemeanor
Idaho Flag
Idaho18None
  • Ages 14-17: Consent from parent/guardian,
  • Under 14: Prohibited
Misdemeanor
Illinois Flag
Illinois18None
  • Parent/guardian must attend tattooing session
Class A misdemeanor
Indiana Flag
Indiana18None
  • Parent/guardian must attend tattooing session
Class A misdemeanor
Iowa Flag
Iowa18None
  • Prohibited
Serious misdemeanor
Kansas Flag
Kansas18None
  • Written and notarized consent,
  • Consenter must attend tattooing session
Class A misdemeanor
Kentucky Flag
Kentucky18None
  • Ages 16-17: Written and notarized consent
Louisiana Flag
Louisiana18None
  • Written consent from legal guardian,
  • Consenter must attend tattooing session
A fine of $100-$500 and/or prison 30-365 days
Maine Flag
Maine18None
  • Prohibited
Class E offense
Maryland Flag
Maryland18None
  • Prohibited
Misdemeanor
Massachusetts Flag
Massachusetts18None
  • Prohibited
A fine up to $300 and/or prison up to one year
Michigan Flag
Michigan18Patron may not be intoxicated or otherwise impaired
  • Written consent from parent/guardian
Misdemeanor
Minnesota Flag
Minnesota18Patron may not be intoxicated or otherwise impaired
  • Prohibited
Gross misdemeanor
Mississippi Flag
Mississippi18None
  • Prohibited
Misdemeanor
Missouri Flag
Missouri18Patron may not be intoxicated or otherwise impaired
  • Written consent from parent/guardian
Misdemeanor
Montana Flag
Montana18Patron may not be intoxicated or otherwise impaired
  • Parent/guardian must consent and attend tattooing session
Unlawful transactions with children or misdemeanor
Nebraska Flag
Nebraska18None
  • Written consent from parent/guardian
Misdemeanor
New Hampshire Flag
New Hampshire18None
  • Prohibited
Class A misdemeanor
New Mexico Flag
New Mexico18None
  • Written and notarized consent,
  • Consenter must attend tattooing session
Misdemeanor
New York Flag
New York18None
  • Prohibited
Misdemeanor
North Carolina Flag
North Carolina18None
  • Prohibited
Class 2 misdemeanor
North Dakota Flag
North Dakota18Unlawful to tattoo within an inch of the eye socket
  • Written consent from legal guardian,
  • Consenter must attend tattooing session
Class B misdemeanor
Ohio Flag
Ohio18None
  • Parent/guardian must consent and attend tattooing session
Misdemeanor
Oklahoma Flag
Oklahoma18Unlawful to tattoo within an inch of the eye socket
  • Prohibited
Misdemeanor
Oregon Flag
Oregon18Unlawful to tattoo within an inch of the eye socket
  • Authorization of a physician
Class B misdemeanor
Pennsylvania Flag
Pennsylvania18None
  • Written consent from legal guardian,
  • Consenter must attend tattooing session
3rd-Degree misdemeanor (1st offense), | 2nd-Degree misdemeanor (2nd offense)
Rhode Island Flag
Rhode Island18None
  • Prohibited
Misdemeanor
South Carolina Flag
South Carolina18Unlawful to tattoo head, face, neck, or within an inch of eye socket
  • Prohibited
Misdemeanor
South Dakota Flag
South Dakota18Unlawful to tattoo within an inch of the eye socket
  • Written consent from parent/guardian
Class 2 misdemeanor
Tennessee Flag
Tennessee18None
  • Minors over the age of sixteen may be tattooed to cover up an existing tattoo, with parent/guardian consent
A fine of $50–$250 (minor who misrespresents age), | Class A misdemeanor (tattooist)
Texas Flag
Texas18Unlawful to tattoo within an inch of the eye socket
  • Consent of parent/guardian,
  • Must cover existing tattoo that has offensive, gang-related, or drug-related content
Class B misdemeanor (minor who misrespresents age), | Class A misdemeanor (tattooist)
Utah Flag
Utah18None
  • Written consent from parent/guardian
Class B misdemeanor
Vermont Flag
Vermont18Patron may not be intoxicated or otherwise impaired
  • Written consent from legal guardian,
  • Consenter must attend tattooing session
A fine up to $5,000 or prison up to one year
Virginia Flag
Virginia18None
  • Parent/guardian must attend tattooing session
Class 1 misdemeanor
Washington Flag
Washington18Unlawful to tattoo within an inch of the eye socket
  • Prohibited
Misdemeanor
West Virginia Flag
West Virginia18Unlawful to tattoo within an inch of the eye socket
  • Ages 16-17: Consent from parent/guardian,
  • Under 14: Prohibited
Misdemeanor
Wisconsin Flag
Wisconsin18None
  • Authorization of a physician
A fine up to $200
Wyoming Flag
Wyoming18None
  • Parent/guardian must attend tattooing session
Misdemeanor criminal offense
New Jersey Flag
New Jersey16None
  • Written consent from legal guardian,
  • Consenter must attend tattooing session
A fine of $50-$1,000
Nevada Flag
Nevada0None
  • Regulated on local level
  • Nevada has no legally defined minimum age for those wishing to receive a tattoo.
  • Tattoo laws could change at any time. Potential patrons are advised to confirm legality with local authorities.