North Carolina Tattoo Laws

(a) It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to tattoo the arm, limb, or any part of the body of any other person under 18 years of age. Anyone violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor.

(b) It shall be unlawful for any person to pierce any part of the body other than ears of another person under the age of 18 for the purpose of allowing the insertion of earrings, jewelry, or similar objects into the body, unless the prior consent of a custodial parent or guardian is obtained. Anyone violating the provisions of this section is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor.

Amended by Laws 1969, c. 1224, § 8; Laws 1971, c. 1231, § 1; Laws 1993, c. 539, § 269, eff. Oct. 1, 1994; Laws 1994, (1st Ex. Sess.), c. 24, § 14(c), eff. March 26, 1994; S.L. 1998-30, § 9, eff. Dec. 1, 1998.

HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES

Laws 1993, c. 539, § 1359, provides:

"This act becomes effective October 1, 1994, and applies to offenses occurring on or after that date. Prosecutions for offenses committed before the effective date of this act are not abated or affected by this act, and the statutes that would be applicable but for this act remain applicable to those prosecutions." [Amended by Laws 1994, Ex.Sess., c. 24, § 14(c), eff. March 26, 1994.]

Laws 1993, c. 539, was ratified July 24, 1993.

S.L. 1998-230, effective December 1, 1998, and applicable to offenses committed on or after that date, designated subd. (a) and added subd. (b).