Michigan piercing laws are set out in Part 131 of the Public Health Code (MCL 333.13101–333.13112) and the administrative rules that go with it. In short: every facility that performs body piercing must be licensed by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS); anyone under 18 needs a parent or legal guardian to give written consent in person and to show proof of that relationship; certain piercings on minors are off the table no matter what a parent signs; and violations are a misdemeanor that also opens the door to civil damages. One boundary to know up front: under state law, “body piercing” means perforating human tissue other than an ear for a nonmedical purpose, so a standard earlobe piercing is not covered by any of the rules below.1Michigan Legislature. MCL – Section 333.13101
Age Limits and Parental Consent
You cannot pierce a minor in Michigan without the prior written informed consent of a parent or legal guardian. The consent form has to be signed in person, in front of the licensee or an employee of the facility. The parent or guardian also has to present the minor’s birth certificate or legal proof of guardianship to establish their authority to consent.2Michigan Legislature. MCL – Section 333.13102
Read that requirement carefully. The statute calls for a birth certificate or guardianship documentation, not just a government-issued photo ID. A driver’s license by itself does not satisfy the law. Facilities that accept lesser identification are exposing themselves to enforcement action and civil liability.
Piercings That Are Off-Limits for Minors
Michigan’s administrative rules go further than the consent statute. A body art technician cannot perform a piercing on the nipple or genital area of a minor, regardless of whether a parent or guardian has given written consent.3State of Michigan. Body Art Rules Highlight Document No parental signature overrides that prohibition.
Piercing Kits
Michigan also prohibits giving or selling a body piercing kit or device to a minor. That is a separate offense from performing an unauthorized piercing.
Who Can Legally Perform a Piercing, and Where
Every body piercing operation in Michigan has to hold a license issued by MDHHS. Performing piercings anywhere other than a licensed facility is treated by the statute as an imminent danger.4Michigan Legislature. MCL – Section 333.13104 That is not just strong wording. It gives regulators authority to shut a setup down immediately, without the usual warning-and-correction cycle. House calls, convention booths without a temporary license, and garage operations all fall into that category.
There is one more prohibition on the practitioner side: it is illegal to perform a piercing on someone who is under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance. That protects the client, whose judgment and pain response are impaired, and the practitioner, who could face liability for a procedure the client was not competent to consent to.
What a Licensed Facility Has to Do for Clients
Before starting any procedure, the facility must give each client three things: a disclosure statement covering the risks and possible consequences of the piercing, aftercare instructions explaining when to seek medical treatment, and a consent form documenting that the client received the disclosure and aftercare materials.5Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. R 333.13101 to R 333.13121 – Body Art Facility Rules
Facilities also have to use sterilized, single-use needles and maintain a clean environment to minimize bloodborne pathogen transmission. Practitioners are expected to demonstrate competence in infection control and safe piercing techniques as part of the facility’s overall compliance with its license conditions.
Client Records
The rules spell out exactly what a client file has to contain: client identification and contact information, a completed health questionnaire, the design and location of the piercing, the type of procedure, and the name of the technician who performed it. For minors, the record has to include proof of the minor’s identification, the parent or guardian’s identification, and a copy of guardianship documentation. Every record has to include a signed informed consent statement confirming the client received and completed the required disclosure and aftercare documents.5Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. R 333.13101 to R 333.13121 – Body Art Facility Rules
Facilities also have to request client contact information so it can be used in communicable disease outbreak investigations, recalls, or other health-related follow-ups.
All client and personnel records have to be kept on the business premises for at least one year, and maintained for a minimum of three years total. Paper records go in a locked filing cabinet or locked room. Electronic records have to be password protected. Access is limited to facility staff who need the records for their job duties, health department inspectors conducting compliance checks or investigating complaints, and anyone else authorized by law.5Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. R 333.13101 to R 333.13121 – Body Art Facility Rules
Getting and Keeping a Facility License
Before you even submit a license application, you have to contact your local health department and complete a plan review that gets approved at the local level. Once that is done, you can apply online through the MI Body Art Portal or by mail.6State of Michigan. Apply for or Renew a Body Art Facility License
MDHHS updates its fees each year. For 2026:
- New annual license: $665.52
- Annual renewal: $665.52
- Late renewal, after December 1, 2025: $998.28 (standard fee plus a $332.76 late penalty)
- New license applied for after July 1, 2026: $332.76 (prorated half-year rate)
- Temporary license, up to 14 days: $199.64
- Duplicate license: $66.52
The late renewal penalty works out to roughly a 50% surcharge, so the December 1 deadline is worth putting on the calendar.6State of Michigan. Apply for or Renew a Body Art Facility License
Inspections
Licenses are nontransferable and subject to annual inspection by the local health department.7Michigan Legislature. MCL – Section 333.13105 Inspectors also have access to the facility, its books, and its records at other times, and they can order a facility to immediately cease operations when conditions warrant it.
Penalties for Breaking the Rules
Violating any provision of Part 131 or its associated rules is a misdemeanor under Michigan law. Beyond criminal liability, a person who violates the statute is also liable in a civil action for actual damages or $1,000, whichever is greater.8Michigan Legislature. MCL – Section 333.13109 That $1,000 floor means a client who cannot prove substantial financial harm can still recover a meaningful amount.
Enforcement does not stop at fines and lawsuits. MDHHS and local health departments can order a facility to immediately cease operations when inspectors find conditions that warrant it. Licenses can be suspended or revoked, and because operating without a license is itself treated as an imminent danger, losing the license effectively shuts the business down until the issue is resolved.
Michigan law does not require piercing facilities to carry liability insurance, but the statutory civil damages floor combined with the potential cost of actual damages from an infection, scarring, or surgical intervention makes general and professional liability coverage worth discussing with an insurance professional who understands the body art industry.