How old do you have to be to get a tattoo in dc with out parental consent?

You must be 18 to get one without parental consent. If you are 18 or over, you sign a consent form after the artist briefs you on the risks and what they are going to do. If you are under 18, your parent or legal guardian must sign the consent form instead, thereby granting permission.

Like any business, artists and/or parlors may refuse minor clients even with parental consent if they choose. Some may have ethical misgivings about tattooing kids, some may restrict tattoo types (no obscene or lewd tattoos to minors), or they may only agree to work around non-intimate body parts.