Tattoos and Piercings Under Eighteen
KRS 211.760 — no tattoo or piercing of a minor without a parent's notarized written consent
The state's health regulations must include procedures to prevent tattooing or body piercing a minor without the written, notarized consent of a custodial parent or legal guardian. Tattooing here includes permanent makeup.
Who handles this in Kentucky: legal aid programs, lawyer referral and the state offices, listed in the Kentucky directory.
Every shop registers. No one may run a tattoo or piercing business without registering each year with the local health department, which must inspect each registered shop at least twice a year.
The detailed rules are in the health cabinet's regulations, not the statute. Questions about a particular shop go to the local health department.
Sources for this section (1)
- KRS 211.760 — Tattooing and body piercing of humans by nonmedical personnel for remuneration
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Kentucky attorney.