Maryland is awesome on so many levels that it’s no wonder it’s such a popular destination to move or travel to.
From the amazing food scene to the incredible art and culture, there’s something for everyone in Maryland. The state is equally loved and appreciated by folks from different walks of life from all around the world.
And that includes tattoo enthusiasts.
If you’re looking for a place to get inked while you’re in Maryland, you’ll be happy to know that there are plenty of great tattoo shops scattered all around the state. In fact, Baltimore has been dubbed one of the best cities for tattoos in the country. Not only the artists are awesome but it’s pretty easy to find an affordable shop that suits your style and budget too.
With that said, Maryland has tattoo regulations just like any other state in the US. And in this post, we’ll be discussing everything you need to know about the latest tattoo laws in Maryland so that you can avoid any potential legal issues while getting your new ink.
Stick with us for a moment.
Maryland Tattoo Laws & Regulations
When it comes to rules on tattoos in the United States, they are usually separate guidelines for customers and artists.
In this sense, Maryland is no different.
Let’s take a look at both now.
Tattoo Laws for Customers
Outwith some individual states that also regulate the allowed placement of a tattoo (for example, Georgia prohibits tattooing within an inch of the eye socket), most states concentrate on minimum age requirements.
Maryland isn’t an exception to this rule.
However, the subject of how old you need to be to get tattooed in Maryland is pretty complicated.
And why is that?
Well, Maryland is currently one of just two states that have no laws related to tattooing minors per se. While in practice that means that in many jurisdictions minors can get inked without any hassle (subject to approval from the tattoo parlor), there are some jurisdictions that have their own requirements.
- Baltimore – strict requirements that state clearly that no person can tattoo a minor (under the age of 18) regardless of written parental consent
- Allegany County – tattooing a minor is permitted as long as a legal guardian or parent is present throughout the session and written consent is provided
- Calvert County – it’s okay to tattoo a minor if written parental consent is provided
- Worcester County – not only is a minor prohibited from getting inked regardless of the parental consent but he’s also not permitted to stay on the premises of a tattoo shop
As you can see, in the case of Maryland the requirements vary strongly from county to county.
So, the best thing you can do if you’re a minor and would like to get tattooed in Maryland is to check the local requirements of the county you’re in before heading to a tattoo shop.
This way, you can avoid any potential legal issues.
Tattoo Laws for Artists
Again, Maryland as a state doesn’t have any specific tattoo laws for artists and businesses operating in this field.
For example, the state has disease control regulations on the subject of skin-penetrating body adornment procedures which can naturally apply to all tattoo parlors. The same can be said about the rules related to the disposal of sharp waste objects.
However, when it comes to the actual tattooing process, there are no specific Maryland state laws.
Again, some jurisdictions in the state, like the four mentioned above in the case of customers, might have their own rules and regulations. So, it’s always best to check with the local authorities before setting up a shop.
For example, the afore-discussed Allegany County, Baltimore, Calvert County, and Worcester County all prohibit unlicensed tattooing.
This means that if you want to get into the tattoo business in any of these jurisdictions, you’ll need to obtain a body art license first. This applies to both individual artists and parlors.
Once the business is licensed, it will be inspected regularly to make sure that all safety and hygiene regulations are being followed. These include:
- keeping a clean and sanitary environment
- the use of disposable needles
- the use of disposable gloves
Adhering to these regulations is crucial not only for keeping your customers safe but also for avoiding any legal issues.
References
We hope that the subject of tattoo laws in Maryland is now clear.
For your information, all the rules and regulations discussed in the article are based on official sources:
