Youngest Age You Can Get a Tattoo in Texas

(Austin, Texas) - Personally, I don't have any tattoos. That doesn't mean I don't want to get one. I would like to get one, it just hasn't been a priority for me at this time. I will at some point. My step-daughter has a couple of them already, so does my wife.

My step-daughter is 20 years old so she is obviously of age to get a tattoo. It did get me to thinking, what is the youngest age someone can be to legally get a tattoo in Texas? There is a whole code that every parlor must abide by to continue to operate.

The Legal Age in Texas to Get a Tattoo

To find the answer of how young is too young to get a tattoo in Texas, you have to go to Texas Admin Code 229.406. In this code, it says that anyone 18 years of age or older with a valid picture ID (i.e. driver's license, passport, military identification) can get a tattoo in Texas from a licensed tattoo parlor. It's when you go further into that code that the answer of how young is too young becomes a little blurry.

When you get to section c of Texas Admin Code 229.406, it says that someone under the age of 18 can get a tattoo with a parent's or guardian's consent. The wording can get a little tricky in but does say that a minor can get a tattoo to "cover an existing tattoo." How the minor got the tattoo isn't questioned but does up the possibilities of obscene language, gang symbols or drug related themes.

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Punishment for Violating the Code

When you get to the bottom of the code, there is a punishment that can be doled out for getting a tattoo. If you are under the age of 18 and present a false ID, you can be charged with a Class B misdemeanor.

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