How Old Do You Have to Be in Tennessee to Get a Tattoo?
Learn how Tennessee regulates tattoo access for minors, including legal age limits, consent rules, and ID requirements for safe compliance.
Tattoos are a common form of self-expression, but obtaining one in Tennessee involves adhering to state laws that regulate the minimum age for the procedure. These regulations affect both potential clients, particularly minors, and the artists providing tattoo services. Familiarity with these rules is necessary before seeking or performing a tattoo in the state.
Minimum Age Requirement
Tennessee law establishes a clear minimum age for receiving a tattoo. State regulations prohibit tattooing anyone under the age of eighteen. This standard is codified in the Tennessee Code Annotated, specifically Title 62, Chapter 38, which addresses tattooing regulations, and reinforced by Tennessee Department of Health rules.1Tennessee Secretary of State. Tennessee Rules Chapter 1200-23-03: General Rules for Body Art This makes eighteen the legal age to obtain a tattoo under most circumstances throughout Tennessee.
Parental Consent Requirements
While Tennessee generally forbids tattooing individuals under 18, a narrow exception exists. State law, specifically Tennessee Code Annotated section 62-38-211(c), permits a minor who is at least sixteen years old to have an existing tattoo covered up, but only under strict parental consent conditions.2Justia US Law. Tennessee Code § 62-38-211 (Tattoos for Persons Under 18) This exception does not apply to obtaining new tattoos.
For the cover-up procedure to be legal, the minor’s parent or legal guardian must provide informed, written consent. The parent or guardian is also required by law to be physically present throughout the entire cover-up session. They must furnish proof of their status as parent or legal guardian, such as a birth certificate or court documentation. Additionally, the parent or guardian must sign an acknowledgment confirming they understand the procedure and relevant laws. This process is strictly limited to covering pre-existing tattoos on sixteen- and seventeen-year-olds and cannot be used for new tattoo work on minors.
Required Identification
To comply with Tennessee’s minimum age law, tattoo artists and studios must verify the age of every client before beginning a procedure.3Cornell Legal Information Institute. Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1200-23-03-.02 (Prohibited Acts) Clients seeking tattoos are required to present valid identification demonstrating they are at least eighteen years old.
Acceptable forms of identification typically include government-issued documents featuring both a photograph and date of birth, such as a state-issued driver’s license, a non-driver state ID card, a military ID, or a passport. The identification must be current and accurately represent the client. Tattoo establishments often maintain records of the identification provided, frequently by photocopying the ID, along with the client’s consent form, to document that age verification was properly conducted.
Consequences for Violations
Violating Tennessee’s tattoo age restrictions carries significant legal consequences for the tattoo artist and the establishment. Tattooing a person under eighteen, outside the specific exception for cover-ups on minors aged sixteen or seventeen with parental consent and presence, is classified as a Class A misdemeanor under Tennessee Code Annotated section 62-38-211(a).4FindLaw. Tennessee Code § 62-38-211 (Tattoos for Persons Under 18)
A Class A misdemeanor conviction in Tennessee can result in penalties including up to 11 months and 29 days in jail, a fine of up to $2,500, or both. These criminal penalties apply to the individual artist. Furthermore, the Tennessee Department of Health or local health departments, which license artists and permit studios, may take administrative actions.5Justia US Law. Tennessee Code § 62-38-204 (Tattoo Artist and Operator Licensing) Violations can lead to disciplinary measures, including the suspension or revocation of licenses and permits required to operate legally. Repeated violations can escalate penalties and potentially lead to the closure of the establishment. Operating a tattoo studio without the necessary permit is a separate Class B misdemeanor, typically involving fines.
