Indoor Tanning Restrictions for Minors
Since 2005, AIM has led the effort to pass indoor tanning legislation—laws that protect minors from the dangers of indoor tanning devices—across the country. We work with other non-profit organizations, state officials, politicians, lobbyists, and private individuals in each state.
Currently, 44 states have a statute in place that in some way restricts a minor’s use of commercial tanning devices. These restrictions range from the most mild of limitations—such as simply requiring parental consent for minors to use the tanning devices—to the most stringent—which is a no-exceptions ban on use of the devices by anyone under 18 years old.
AIM advocates only for full under 18 bans. Our efforts have led to 20 states and the District of Columbia passing complete bans on minors using commercial indoor tanning devices. In addition to these 20 states, Washington and Oregon have passed nearly complete bans, allowing for minors’ use only with a medical exception.
See below for a list of states that introduced some sort of indoor tanning legislation this year. Click on the state to find out more information about the legislation.
See farther below for a list of all 44 states that have passed laws that provide some form of under 18 restriction on indoor tanning; click on the state to find out more about the legislation. The states with a “thumb’s up” icon are those that have complete under 18 bans on the use of commercial tanning devices.
States that Introduced Indoor Tanning Legislation in 2023
Ohio
Would prohibit minors under 18 from indoor tanning devices. Those 18 and over must provide either written or electronic consent on the form developed by the state cosmetology and barber board.
Would prohibit minors under 18 from indoor tanning devices. Those 18 and over must provide either written or electronic consent on the form developed by the state cosmetology and barber board.
States with Some Form of Indoor Tanning Restriction for Minors
Alabama
Law: Code of Alabama 1975 Section 22-17B-2
Age Restriction: Under 15, 15, 16-17
Ban Details: Prohibits minors under 15 from using tanning devices unless prescribed by a physician. Requires 15-year-olds to provide parent/guardian in-person written consent and the parent/guardian is present at the facility during the use of the device. Requires 16 and 17-year-olds to provide parent/guardian in-person written consent.
Arizona
Law: AZ Admin. Code R12-1-1414 A2
Age Restriction: Under 18
Ban Details: Requires parent/guardian in-person written consent for minors under 18.
Arkansas
Law: Ark. Stat. Ann. 20-27-2202
Age Restriction: Under 18
Ban Details: Requires parent/guardian in-person written consent for minors under 18.
California
Law: CA Bus. and Prof. Code 22706 (b) (3) and (4)
Age Restriction: Under 18
Ban Details: Prohibits minors under 18 from using tanning devices.
As of Jan. 1, 2012, CA was the first state in the nation to ban use of UV indoor tanning devices for ALL minors under 18.
Connecticut
No Content
Delaware
Law: Del. Code Ann. tit, 16 § 30D
Age Restriction: Under 18
Ban Details: Prohibits minors under 18 from using tanning devices.
District of Columbia
Law: DC Act 20-549
Age Restriction: Under 18
Ban Details: Prohibits minors under 18 from using tanning devices.
Florida
Law: FL Stat. Ann. § 381.89 (1998)
Age Restriction: Under 14; 14-18
Ban Details: Parents/guardians must accompany minors under 14 on all visits. Requires parent/guardian written consent for minors between 14-18.
Georgia
Law: GA Code Ann. § 31-38-8 (2010)
Age Restriction: Under 14; 14-18
Ban Details: Prohibits minors under 14 from using tanning devices. Requires parent/guardian in-person written consent for minors 14 years of age or over but under 18 years of age.
Hawaii
Law: HRS § 321-12.2
Age Restriction: Under 18
Ban Details: Prohibits minors under 18 from using tanning devices.
Idaho
Law: ID Code Section 18 – 1523
Age Restriction: Under 14; Under 18
Ban Details: Prohibits minors under 14 from tanning devices. Requires parent/guardian in-person written consent for minors 14 until 18. Allows minors to use tanning devices when authorized by a physician’s prescription.
Illinois
Law: IL Admin. Code Title 77; Sec. 795.190 (c)
Age Restriction: Under 18
Ban Details: Prohibits minors under 18 from using tanning devices.
Indiana
Law: IN Code Ann. § 25-8-15.4-16
Age Restriction: Under 16; 16 and 17
Ban Details: Prohibits minors under 16 from using tanning devices. Minors 16 and 17 require parent/guardian in-person written consent.
Kansas
Law: Kan. Stat. Ann. 1931 (2016)
Age Restriction: Under 18
Ban Details: Prohibits minors under 18 from using tanning devices.
Kentucky
Law: KRS Chapter 217.922
Age Restriction: Under 14; 14-18
Ban Details: Parent/guardian must accompany children under the age of 14. Requires parent/guardian written consent for someone under 18. The consent is valid for 1 calendar year.
Louisiana
Law: LA Rev. Stat. Ann. § 40:2707
Age Restriction: Under 18
Ban Details: Prohibits minors under 18 from using tanning devic
Maine
Law: 10-144 Dept. of Human Services ch. 223 12A (3)(f)
Age Restriction: Under 18
Ban Details: Prohibits minors under 18 from indoor tanning devices.
Maryland
Law: Md. Health Code Ann. § 20-106
Age Restriction: Under 18
Ban Details: Prohibits minors under 18 from indoor tanning devices.
Massachusetts
Law: MA Gen. Laws Ann. ch. 111 Public Health § 211
Age Restriction: Under 18
Ban Details: Prohibit minors under 18 from using tanning devices.
Michigan
Law: MI Comp. Laws Ann. § 333.13405
Age Restriction: Under 18
Ban Details: Requires in-person consent for minors under 18. Valid for 1 year.
Minnesota
Age Restriction: Under 18
Ban Details: Prohibits minors under 18 from using tanning devices.
Mississippi
Law: Miss Code Ann. § 41-115-1
Age Restriction: Under 14; Under 18
Ban Details: Parent/guardian must accompany minor under 14 during the entire time that the minor uses a tanning device at the tanning facility. Requires in-person written consent for minors under 18. Valid for 1 year and must specify the number of sessions.
Missouri
Age Restriction: Under 17
Ban Details: Requires parent/guardian in-person written consent annually for minors under 17.
Nebraska
Law: NE Laws 2014, LB132, §4-6
Age Restriction: Under 16
Ban Details: Requires minors under 16 be accompanied by a parent/guardian and the parent/guardian before each use provides in-person written consent.
Nevada
Law: NRS 597.7617
Age Restriction: Under 18
Ban Details: Prohibits minors under 18 from using tanning devices.
New Hampshire
Law: NH Rev. Stat. Ann. § tit. XXX 313-A:31
Age Restriction: Under 18
Ban Details: Prohibits minors under 18 from using tanning devices.
New Jersey
Law: NJ Rev. Stat. § C. 26:2D-82.1
Age Restriction: Under 17; Under 14
Ban Details: Prohibits minors under 17 from using tanning devices. 17 year olds must obtain parent/guardian written consent. Prohibits minors under 14 from using spray tan.
New York
Law: NY Public Health Law Article 35-A ch. 3555
Age Restriction: under 18
Ban Details: Prohibits minors under 18 from indoor tanning devices.
North Carolina
Laws: NC Gen. Stat.§ 104E-9.1 HB 158 / S.L. 2015-21 (= S125)
Age Restriction: Under 18
Ban Details: Prohibits minors under 18 from using tanning devices.
North Dakota
Law: ND Cent. Code § Health and Safety Chapter 23-39
Age Restriction: Under 14; 14-18
Ban Details: Prohibits minors under 14 from using tanning devices without a physician’s written prescription. Parents/guardians must accompany minors under 14 on all visits. Requires parent/guardian in-person written consent for minors under 18. Valid for 12 months.
Ohio
Law: OH Admin. Code 4713-19-09 (B)
Age Restriction: Under 16; Under 18
Ban Details: Under 16 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian each time. Ages 16-17 requires in-person written consent for 90-days, but not for more than 45 visits.
Oklahoma
Law: 63 OK Stat § 63-7302 (2018)
Age Restriction: Under 18
Ban Details: Prohibits minors under 18 from using tanning devices.
Oregon
Law: OAR 333-119-0090 (2)
Age Restriction: Under 18
Ban Details: Prohibits minors under 18 from using tanning devices unless prescribed by a physician.
Pennsylvania
Law: 2014 Act No. 41
Age Restriction: Under 17; 17
Ban Details: Prohibits minors under 17 from using tanning devices. Requires parent/guardian written consent for 17 year olds.
Rhode Island
Law: Dept. of Health Rules and Regulations for the Registration of Tanning Facilities Part III; Sec. 9.5
Age Restriction: Under 18
Ban Details: Prohibits minors under 18 from indoor tanning devices.
South Carolina
Law: SC Code Ann. § ch. 61, sec. 106-3.7.1
Age Restriction: Under 18
Ban Details: Requires parent/guardian in-person written consent for minors under 18.
Tennessee
Law: TN Code Ann. § 68-117-104
Age Restriction: Under 16; 14-18
Ban Details: Prohibits minors under 16 from indoor tanning devices. A person between 16 and 18 years of age shall be accompanied by the person’s parent or legal guardian when using a tanning device who must sign a warnings statement. For subsequent visits, the person between 16 and 18 years of age may use a tanning device at that tanning facility without the parent/guardian present on a subsequent visit as long as the signed statement remains on file with the tanning facility.
Texas
Law: TX Health and Safety Code Ann. § 145.008
Age Restriction: Under 18
Ban Details: Prohibits minors under 18 from using tanning devices.
Utah
Age Restriction: Under 18
Ban Details: Parent/guardian must accompany minors under 18 at each visit. Prohibits anyone under the age of 18 from using a tanning device unless the minor (i) has a written order from a physician or (ii) at each time of use the minor is accompanied by a parent/guardian who provides written consent authorizing the minor to use the tanning device.
Vermont
Age Restriction: Under 18
Ban Details: Prohibits minors under 18 from using tanning devices.
Virginia
Law: VA Code § 59.1-310.5
Age Restriction: Under 18
Ban Details: Prohibits minors under 18 from using tanning devices.
Washington
Law: WA Title 18 RCW Business and Professions Chapter 18, 370
Age Restriction: Under 18
Ban Details: Prohibits minors under 18 from using tanning devices unless prescribed by a physician.
West Virginia
Age Restriction: Under 18
Ban Details: Prohibits minors under 18 from using tanning devices.
Wisconsin
Law: WI Code Ann. § 463.25(9)(a)
Age Restriction: Under 16
Ban Details: Prohibits minors under 16 from using tanning devices.
Wyoming
Law: W.S. 14-3-108
Age Restriction: Under 15; 15-18
Ban Details: Requires parent/guardian accompany minor under 15 on all visits, sign in-person consent, and is present the entire time of use. Requires parent/guardian in-person written consent for minors age 15 to the age of majority. Consent is valid for 12 months.
Source: AIM at Melanoma and StateNet.
Note: List may not be comprehensive but is representative of the state laws that exist. AIM appreciates additions and corrections. Contact us at sguild@AIMatMelanoma.org.