Tattoo regulations in Texas
Texas licenses tattoo studios through the Department of State Health Services (DSHS), and rules in the Texas Administrative Code set hygiene, sterilization and record keeping. Client records, including age, date of birth and the type of ID checked, stay at the studio for at least two years after the last entry. Temporary locations such as conventions need their own licence.
Last checked September 25, 2026
Minimum age
Who you can tattoo, and with whose permission.
Minimum age
18 and over
Younger clients
Parental consent is not an exception
Minors can only be tattooed to cover an existing offensive tattoo, with a parent or guardian present and their written consent. Otherwise no one under 18 may be tattooed.
Consent
What the customer signs before each tattoo.
Client records
What to record and how long to keep it.
Keep for 2 years
Set by law
What to record
- Full name
- Date of birth
- Age
- Type of ID checked
- Date of the procedure
- Placement on the body
- Description of the tattoo
- Artist
- Client signature
- Parent or guardian details
Ink
What can go into the skin and what you must record.
Sterilization and waste
Cleaning, sterilizing and getting rid of sharps.
Licensing
What you need to open a studio and work in it.
Guest artists
Hosting artists from somewhere else.