Skip to main content
CityRuleLookup
Key FactsOrdinance TextFull BreakdownViolationsFAQSourcesMore in Kansas City

Kansas City, MO Business Licensing & Operations: Tattoo & Body Modification (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Tattooing a minor
prohibited outright, no exceptions
Piercing a minor
requires written parental consent
Consent must be signed
in piercer's presence
Violation classified as
ordinance violation

Summary

Kansas City bans tattooing anyone under 18 outright and allows body piercing of a minor only with the parent or guardian's written consent given in person.

No person shall tattoo the person of any minor under any circumstances. Any person who shall violate the provisions of this section shall be deemed guilty of an ordinance violation.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 139 | Zoning and Development Code: Supplement 38).

Full Breakdown

City Code § 50-239 makes it an ordinance violation to tattoo a minor under any circumstances: there is no parental-consent exception for tattoos. Body piercing is treated differently: § 50-240 permits it only if the minor's parent or legal guardian signs a written informed-consent form in the presence of the piercer or the piercer's employee. Both are enforced as ordinance violations, not misdemeanors, and sit in the Minors article of Chapter 50 alongside curfew and tobacco-sales-to-minors rules. Missouri separately licenses tattoo and body-piercing artists at the state level (RSMo ch. 324), so a shop still needs a state license; these two sections are the city's own age restrictions layered on top.

Violations & Fines

Violating either section is an ordinance violation, prosecuted in Kansas City Municipal Court like other Chapter 50 offenses.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a Kansas City tattoo shop tattoo a 17-year-old with parent permission?
No. City Code § 50-239 bars tattooing anyone under 18 under any circumstances, and parental consent does not create an exception.
Does a parent's signature alone authorize a minor's piercing?
No. Under § 50-240 the parent or guardian must sign the written consent in the presence of the piercer or their employee, not remotely.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Kansas City

Noise Ordinances: Construction HoursFew RestrictionsAdult EntertainmentSignificant RestrictionsMassage EstablishmentsSignificant RestrictionsPawnbrokersSome RestrictionsAuto Repair on Residential PropertyHeavy RestrictionsSecondhand DealersSignificant RestrictionsTowing CompaniesSome RestrictionsTobacco Retail LicenseSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Towing & Impound RightsSignificant RestrictionsParking Rules: Loading ZonesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Preferential Parking DistrictsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Curb Color RulesSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Veterinary Clinic ZoningSome Restrictions

All Kansas City rules

Compare Kansas City to another location·View the Missouri business licensing & operations overview

Get notified when Tattoo & Body Modification in Kansas City, MO changes

We'll email you the moment we detect a change in the code. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We'll never sell or share your email. One-click unsubscribe in every email.

See something wrong?

Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.

Tattoo & Body Modification in Nearby Cities

How other cities in Jackson County handle tattoo & body modification.

Independence, MO
Significant Restrictions