Legal Age for a Tattoo in Massachusetts
Are you excited to get your first tattoo, but you don`t know at what age you can get one? A tattoo is for life, so it`s not something you should skip or make illegal, especially as a minor. Minors may be tattooed with parental or guardian consent to obscure an existing tattoo that contains offensive, gang-related, or drug-related content, or “any other word, symbol, or mark that the person`s parent or guardian deems to be in the person`s best interest.”[99] All licensed tattoo artists in Massachusetts must take the following courses. You will also need to take them with you to apply for a learner`s permit. The second reason for age restrictions is that tattooing is a medical procedure and therefore minimum standards must be met. Liberty said police told her about “obvious” kitchen body art, which is even advertised on Facebook. She said she spoke to a backdoor tattoo artist who has since left town. Check if the store looks clean. Find out about the professional`s license, training and experience. Don`t be afraid to ask questions before making decisions. You can also ask to watch what happens in the store when someone else gets pierced or tattooed. If you think your teen might be tempted to get body art or body modification, talk about it. Instead of just banning it, learn why your teen is interested in a particular tattoo or piercing. Before you start planning your tattoo, familiarize yourself with the regulations of the state where you want to get a tattoo.
This means that anyone 18 years of age or older can be tattooed without parental consent. In Massachusetts, tattoo restrictions are set by local health authorities. Auburn`s ordinance states: “No form of body art may be performed on a child under 6 years of age.” Under this condition, minors under the age of 18 may be tattooed with the consent of their parents. In addition, the consent form must be accompanied by proof that the parent or guardian is present during the process when the process takes place. The correct identification of the parent or guardian is a driver`s license, passport or military ID card. So why does the government care about the age at which a person gets a tattoo? In the state of Maine, it is illegal to tattoo people under the age of 18, regardless of parental consent. All guests must present a valid photo ID. Many tattoo parlors have rules that prohibit minors from entering their establishment unless it is legal piercing procedures. Tattoo parlors strictly adhere to these laws to avoid legal penalties.
The penalty for tattooing a minor includes fines ranging from $50 to $500 or jail time of up to six months. Unfortunately, not all tattoo artists or piercers respect the law. Some of them may be willing to tattoo your teen or give them a nose ring without your consent. Anyone who breaks the law is likely to face a fine and may lose their license. Legally, the youngest you can get tattooed in the United States is 18. At this age, you don`t need to get permission from your parents, sign additional consent forms, have your age verified, or worry about breaking state laws. Here are some of the tattoo laws in Canada`s largest provinces: tattoo artists, piercers, etc. require a license. [2] Many states require a minor to be tattooed by a licensed physician, or at least in the presence of a physician.
“It`s up to parents to decide whether or not their child should get a tattoo,” the board member said. “It would be better for them to get it in a legitimate place.” No one can be tattooed within an inch of their eye socket. [25] Oklahoma only legalized tattooing in 2006 and was the last state to do so. In all cases, parental consent is required, the parent or guardian must be present during the tattoo, and in some cases, a doctor is required to perform the tattoo or be present. The UK is one of the few countries in the EU to ban anyone under the age of 18 from getting a tattoo, regardless of parental consent. Anyone under the age of 18 is considered a minor and tattooing of minors is strictly regulated. During the hearing, Zecco filed a motion to allow children between the ages of 16 and 18 to get tattoos, but Stelmach changed it to 14 after Ed Masterson, owner of Steel N Ink tattoo parlor, said the city had already allowed 15- to 18-year-olds to get tattoos with their parents` consent. Note: The information on this page is provided for reference purposes for state legislators and legislative staff.
If you have a question about tattooing or piercing, please contact your local or state environmental health department. Just because a state law allows it doesn`t mean a tattoo artist will consent to tattoo a 13-year-old. Getting a tattoo at the age of 13 is not common or easy.