§ 47–2853.76e. Prohibitions and penalties.

(a) No person shall perform or offer to perform body art procedures, hold him or herself out as a practitioner of or entitled or authorized to practice body art procedures, assume any title of “body artist” “tattooist,” “tattoo artist,” “body-piercer,” “body-piercing artist,” or “body modification artist,” and the like, use any words or letters, figures, titles, signs, cards, advertisement, or any other symbols or devices indicating or tending to indicate that the person is authorized to perform such services, or use other letters or titles in connection with that person’s name which in any way represents himself or herself as being engaged in the practice of body art, or authorized to do so, unless the person is licensed by and registered with the Mayor to perform body art procedures in the District of Columbia.

(b) No body artist shall perform body art procedures on a person under 18 years of age; except, that, if a parent or legal guardian has provided their written consent:

(1) Ear piercing with a sterilized hollow needle or a mechanized, pre-sterilized single-use stud and clasp ear piercing gun is permitted for persons under 18 years of age; and

(2) Tattooing services are permitted for persons 16 years of age and older.

(c) No person shall perform body art procedures if the person is unable to exercise reasonable care and safety or is otherwise impaired by reason of illness, while under the influence of alcohol, or while using any controlled substance or narcotic drug as defined in 21 U.S.C.§ 802(6) or (17), respectively, or other drug in excess of therapeutic amounts or without valid medical indication, or any combination thereof.

(d) No body artist shall administer anesthetic injections or other medications and prescription drugs to customers receiving body art procedures.

(e) Any person who violates this section shall, upon conviction, be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and may be punished by a fine not exceeding $2,500, imprisonment for not more than 3 months, or both.