Tattoos Under Eighteen
W. Va. Code § 16-38-3 — under 18, a parent's prior written consent, kept on file five years
A minor here is anyone under the age of 18 years. A tattoo studio must get prior written consent from one parent or guardian before tattooing a minor, and keep every written consent on file for five years.
Who handles this in West Virginia: legal aid programs, lawyer referral and the state offices, listed in the West Virginia directory.
Every customer signs too. Before any tattoo, the artist must discuss the risks, including that a tattoo may interfere with reading an MRI, and give written information the customer signs for. The person getting the tattoo attests to not being intoxicated or under the influence.
Piercing and tanning are not covered by this article. Questions about a particular studio go to the local or regional board of health.
Sources for this section (2)
- W. Va. Code § 16-38-3 — Operation standards
- W. Va. Code § 16-38-1 — Definitions
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed West Virginia attorney.