California · Penal Code

PEN §652: (a) It shall be an infraction for any person to perform or offer to perform body piercing upon a person under the age of 18 years, unless the body piercing is performed in the presence of, or as direc

Infraction

What this law says, in plain English

It is illegal to perform body piercings on minors under 18 without parental/guardian consent in writing or presence. Ear piercing is excluded.

Read the full statutory text

(a) It shall be an infraction for any person to perform or offer to perform body piercing upon a person under the age of 18 years, unless the body piercing is performed in the presence of, or as directed by a notarized writing by, the person’s parent or guardian. (b) This section does not apply to the body piercing of an emancipated minor. (c) As used in this section, “body piercing” means the creation of an opening in the body of a human being for the purpose of inserting jewelry or other decoration, including, but not limited to, the piercing of a lip, tongue, nose, or eyebrow. “Body piercing” does not include the piercing of an ear. (d) Neither the minor upon whom the body piercing was performed, nor the parent or guardian of that minor, nor any other minor is liable for punishment under this section.

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