Tattoos, Piercings and Tanning Under Eighteen
Fla. Stat. 381.00787 — no tattoo under 16, and a parent with notarized consent from 16 to 18
| Age | Tattoo | Body piercing |
|---|---|---|
| AgeUnder 16 | TattooNot allowed, unless done for medical or dental purposes by a licensed physician or dentist | Body piercingParent's written notarized consent, and the parent or guardian there |
| Age16 to under 18 | TattooA parent or guardian there, photo ID for both, the parent's written notarized consent, and proof of being the parent | Body piercingParent's written notarized consent |
Who handles this in Florida: legal aid programs, lawyer referral and the state offices, listed in the Florida directory.
Tattooing a minor outside those rules is a misdemeanor of the second degree, which carries up to 60 days in jail and a fine of up to $500. A tattoo artist who carefully inspected what looked like a genuine government photo ID showing 18 or older, where the minor lied, has not broken the section.
Tanning beds. A tanning facility may not let a minor between 14 and 18 use a tanning device without a parent's or guardian's signed statement on file, and a minor under 14 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
The licensing of tattoo artists, piercing salons and tanning facilities is in other parts of the chapter not covered here, and the county health department answers questions about a particular shop.
Sources for this section (5)
- Fla. Stat. 381.00787 — Tattooing prohibited; penalty
- Fla. Stat. 381.0075 — Regulation of body piercing salons
- Fla. Stat. 775.082 — Penalties; applicability of sentencing structures
- Fla. Stat. 775.083 — Fines
- Fla. Stat. 381.89 — Regulation of tanning facilities
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Florida attorney.