I need help with illinois tattoo laws?

Question

im 17 and i want my first tattoo professionally done. the only problem is im not sure if i have to be 18. my parents said they will sign consent papers. can i get my tattoo?

Answer 1

I don't about about in your state if its the same as mine. If you have parent consent then you should be able to.

Answer 2

you have to be 18.

just wait it out, you're almost there

Answer 3

Update for Illinois

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Gov. Rod Blagojevich's office says a bill signed into law by the governor will allow tattoos from age 18 and up by January 1st 2007!!!

For detailed info about this change please search google for

(419 ILCS 54/) Tattoo and Body Piercing Establishment Registration Act

for the state of ILLINOIS.

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State Of Illinois

Illinois Statutes

CHAPTER 720 Criminal Offenses

TITLE III. SPECIFIC OFFENSES

ARTICLE 12. BODILY HARM

720 ILCS 5/12-10

Sec. 12-10. (Tattooing Body of Minor.) Any person, other than a person licensed to practice medicine in all its branches, who tattoos or offers to tattoo a person under the age of 21 is guilty of a Class C misdemeanor.

As used in this Section, to "tattoo" means to insert pigment under the surface of the skin of a human being, by pricking with a needle or otherwise, so as to produce an indelible mark or figure visible through the skin.

91_HB0360 LRB9101168RCks 1 AN ACT to amend the Criminal Code of 1961 by changing 2 Section 12-10. 3 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 4 represented in the General Assembly: 5 Section 5. The Criminal Code of 1961 is amended by 6 changing Section 12-10 as follows: 7 (720 ILCS 5/12-10) (from Ch. 38, par. 12-10) 8 Sec. 12-10. Tattooing Body of Minor.) A Any person, other 9 than a person licensed to practice medicine in all its 10 branches, who tattoos or offers to tattoo a person under the 11 age of 21 is guilty of a Class C misdemeanor. 12 As used in this Section, to "tattoo" means to insert 13 pigment under the surface of the skin of a human being, by 14 pricking with a needle or otherwise, so as to produce an 15 indelible mark or figure visible through the skin. 16 (Source: P.A. 77-2638.)

Answer 4

The link below gives State to State laws.  The thing is...when in doubt call your State's Health Department and ask them what the law is.  From what it says about Illinois...you cant get a tattoo even with a parents consent.  You have to wait till you are 18.  You cant even be in the shop without a parent or legal guardian with you...but that doesn't mean you can get a tattoo...it just means if a parent goes to a shop you can accompany them if they are getting ink or looking.

EVEN with consent you will probably not be able to get a tattoo in the State of Illinois.  Some State's allow it and others don't.  Either way, just call the State's Health Department and ask them...that will settle the question.

Most reputable artist will not tattoo you until you are of legal age...in this case 18.  It's one more year...you are almost there.

Best of Luck!

Answer 5

Well, the thing is, regardless of if you need to be 18 or not you can get a tattoo if your parents are willing to sign consent forms.

Please consider that a tattoo is a permanent addition to your body and is all to commonly taken too lightly.  People will get a tattoo they will think is cool for a year or two and then suddenly realize it may not have been the best decision.

So, think carefully on what your design will be sure it is something you can happily live with for the remainder of your life.  I'm several years in to my first three tats and happily finishing up my fourth, but only after very careful thought on what I wanted.

Shop around for your artist and good luck

Answer 6

you'll have to ask the shop you plan on getting it from. if their honest than they will tell you the truth. if not, then you should look for a more reputable artist anyway. where i live you have to be 18 no matter what. there are no consent forms. some states differ i'm sure. just like smoking, i know some states the age is 17 and where i live it's 18.

Answer 7

i dont know if its the same where i live or not but just go to the tattoo parlor and ask someone there if they know the age that someone can have a tattoo

Answer 8

Wait a year.  Plain and simple- the age is 18 for a reason.  You want to make sure that your body won't be changing as much.

Answer 9

I own a tattoo studio in Illinois.  You cannot get tattooed here until you are 18.  There are no provisions for parental consent.  It is a class A misdemeanor if we tattoo anyone under 18.

Edits: Natalie, your information is completely skewed.  You did not get that from the State's page...just from someone who threw stuff together.  It went from 21 to 18 January of 06 - not 07 and the rest is a just a hodge podge of very old information.

I know my laws as a studio owner, artist, and local advocate for the industry.