Tattoos and Piercings Under Eighteen
Ala. Code § 22-17A-2 — a parent's written consent signed in the shop, beside a rule requiring 18
One section bars tattooing, branding or piercing a minor without a parent's or legal guardian's prior written informed consent, signed in front of the artist or an employee. The next section allows tattooing, branding or body piercing only in a licensed facility and only when the person receiving it is 18 years of age or older.
Who handles this in Alabama: legal aid programs, lawyer referral and the state offices, listed in the Alabama directory.
The two sections read differently. Read together, they leave unclear whether a parent's consent is enough. How they apply to a particular shop is a question for the state health department or a licensed Alabama attorney.
Piercing the ear is not body piercing under the chapter, and an emancipated minor is not a minor. No one may be tattooed or pierced while under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance.
Sources for this section (3)
- Ala. Code § 22-17A-2 — Parental Consent Required for Minors; Intoxicated, Etc., Individuals
- Ala. Code § 22-17A-3 — Tattoo Facility License
- Ala. Code § 22-17A-1 — Definitions
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Alabama attorney.