Tattoos and Piercings Under Eighteen
N.D.C.C. § 12.1-31-13 — under eighteen, a parent present with written consent
It is a class B misdemeanor to tattoo, brand, scarify, pierce or give a subdermal implant to anyone under eighteen years of age unless a parent or legal guardian is present and gives written consent. A licensed health care professional acting within that practice is exempt.
Who handles this in North Dakota: legal aid programs and the state offices, listed in the North Dakota directory.
No kits either. Selling or giving anyone under eighteen the materials or a kit for tattooing, branding, scarifying, piercing or implants, including for doing it to themselves, is also a class B misdemeanor.
A class B misdemeanor carries up to thirty days, a $1,500 fine, or both. A city or county may set stricter rules.
Sources for this section (2)
- N.D.C.C. § 12.1-31-13 — Tattooing, branding, subdermal implants, scarifying, and piercing - Minors
- N.D.C.C. § 12.1-32-01 — Classification of offenses - Penalties
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed North Dakota attorney.