Tattoos and Piercings Under Eighteen
Neb. Rev. Stat. § 38-10,165 — under 18, a parent's written consent and the parent in the room
Body art means body piercing, branding, permanent color and tattooing. No one may perform it on a person under eighteen years of age without the prior written consent of a parent or court appointed guardian, and the person giving consent must be present during the procedure. The artist keeps a copy of the consent for five years.
Who handles this in Nebraska: legal aid programs, lawyer referral and the state offices, listed in the Nebraska directory.
No artist has to do it. The section does not require anyone to perform body art on a minor, even with a parent's consent.
A violation is a Class III misdemeanor, with up to three months, up to a $500 fine, or both. Questions about a particular shop go to the state health department.
Sources for this section (3)
- Neb. Rev. Stat. § 38-10,165 — Body art; consent required; when; violation; penalty
- Neb. Rev. Stat. § 38-1008 — Body art, defined
- Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-106 — Misdemeanors; classification of penalties; sentences; where served
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Nebraska attorney.