City Council votes to lower legal tattoo age to 18

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The Chicago City Council passed an ordinance lowering the age to legally get a tattoo in the city to 18 years from 21 years.

Illinois' minimum age for tattooing is 18 years, so the newly passed ordinance brings Chicago into step with the rest of the state. A spokesperson form the mayor's office said the ordinance will help "prevent confusion over which age applies and acknowledges there is no significant public health benefit of keeping the age at 21."

The minimum age change also applies to piercings.

The ordinance also clarifies that anyone under 18 cannot use tanning salons, even with parental consent, and establishes a special consent form for minors receiving oral piercings.

Finally, the Board of Health will be allowed to issue rules classifying and setting fines for violations at tattooing, body art and tanning salons. Those fines would range from $250 to $500 for those over the legal age, while violations involving minors would carry high penalties ranging from $2,000 to $10,000.