How old do you have to be to get a tattoo in Washington, D.C.?

As of 2014, there are no age restrictions to getting a tattoo in Washington, D.C. This means each establishment is free to create its own rules regarding age. However, the District has considered regulating the business, and new laws could be adopted.

In 2013, the city's health department proposed new regulations for tattoo and piercing businesses. These included instituting a 24-hour waiting period for any person who wanted a tattoo or certain kinds of piercings. The package also included a rule banning those younger than 18 from getting a tattoo. Those regulations were not adopted that year, but as of 2014, they have been revised and may still be implemented.