Louisiana tattoo waiver requirements
In Louisiana, the Department of Health (LDH) enforces recordkeeping standards for all commercial tattoo facilities to ensure public safety and procedural accountability.
Create your Louisiana tattoo waiver
Our Louisiana tattoo waiver generator helps you create a consent form aligned with the Louisiana Sanitary Code. It is designed to collect the required client information, disclosures, pigment data, and acknowledgments so your records meet LDH standards and are inspection-ready.
Tattoo waiver requirements in Louisiana
According to the Louisiana Department of Health, Title 51 Public Health, Part XXVIII Commercial Body Art, permanent client records must include the following:
Client info
Record the client’s full legal name and residential address.
Tattoo date
Document the date each tattoo service is performed.
Tattoo details
Maintain a description of the tattoo service performed.
Pigment information
Record all pigments used during the procedure, including the color, manufacturer, and lot number.
Client consent
A written consent form must be completed and signed by the client prior to performing any tattoo procedure.
Health history
Clients must be asked to disclose medical conditions that may affect healing, including diabetes, bleeding disorders, skin conditions, allergies, epilepsy, pregnancy, immune disorders, or scarring.
Aftercare instructions
Aftercare instructions must be provided verbally and in writing. Written instructions must include guidance to seek medical attention for abnormal swelling, inflammation, or signs of infection.
Risk warning notice
A clearly visible sign must be displayed in the facility warning that certain medical conditions may adversely affect healing and increase risks associated with tattooing.
Service restrictions
Tattooing may not be performed on individuals under the influence of drugs or alcohol, persons showing signs of intravenous drug use, clients with sunburn, open wounds, rashes, infections, psoriasis, or eczema in the treatment area, individuals with infectious or communicable diseases that may be transmitted during tattooing, or persons under 18 without required parent or guardian presence, consent, and identification.
Minors
Tattoo facilities are not required to provide tattoo services to anyone under 18, even if a parent or guardian is present and provides consent.
Permanent cosmetic procedures
For permanent cosmetic tattoo procedures, before-and-after photographs must be taken and retained as part of the client’s record.
Record keeping
All client records must be retained for a minimum of three years and made available for inspection upon request by the Louisiana Department of Health or its authorized representatives.
Source
Tattoo waiver and recordkeeping requirements in Louisiana are defined by the Louisiana Department of Health under Title 51 Public Health, Part XXVIII Commercial Body Art.
Louisiana tattoo waiver overview on Instagram
We also break down Louisiana’s tattoo recordkeeping rules in a visual format. Visit our Instagram post to see a quick summary built for shop owners and artists.
Video walkthrough: Louisiana tattoo waiver requirements
Frequently asked questions
Do Louisiana tattoo shops need to record ink lot numbers?
Yes. For each tattoo or permanent cosmetic procedure, the client’s written record must document the color, manufacturer, and lot number of each pigment used.
Can a minor get a tattoo in Louisiana with parental consent?
The regulation prohibits tattooing or body piercing a person under 18 unless the parent, legal custodian parent, or legal guardian is present, provides consent, and provides proper identification, as prescribed by Louisiana law.
What are the exact requirements for the warning sign in my shop?
The sign must be clearly visible and list specific health conditions (like diabetes and hemophilia) that may affect healing. It must also meet strict size requirements: uppercase letters must be at least 1/2 inch tall, and lowercase letters must be at least 1/4 inch tall.
What happens if a client refuses to disclose their medical history?
The regulations state that operators “should” request and record this information to promote proper healing. Because the state also prohibits working on individuals with certain visible skin diseases or communicable infections, most professional studios require a completed health disclosure as a condition of service to ensure they aren’t violating safety restrictions.
Can leftover ink from a session be saved for touch-ups?
No. Individual portions of ink, dye, or pigment must be dispensed into single-use containers for each client. Any remaining unused ink must be discarded immediately after the service and cannot be reused on another client or saved for future sessions.
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