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California · Through 2026-09-13

PEN § 653

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Where this section sits in the code
  1. Penal Code - PEN
  2. PART 1. OF CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS [25. - 680.4.]
  3. TITLE 15. MISCELLANEOUS CRIMES [626. - 653.75.]
  4. CHAPTER 2. Of Other and Miscellaneous Offenses [639. - 653.2.]

Every person who tattoos or offers to tattoo a person under the age of 18 years is guilty of a misdemeanor.

As used in this section, to “tattoo” means to insert pigment under the surface of the skin of a human being, by pricking with a needle or otherwise, so as to produce an indelible mark or figure visible through the skin.

This section is not intended to apply to any act of a licensed practitioner of the healing arts performed in the course of his practice.

Collected 2026-09-14T05:56:33Z. Source file · JSON

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