Whether you can tan under 18 with parental permission depends entirely on which state you live in. More than 20 states and the District of Columbia ban indoor tanning for anyone under 18, and a signed parental consent form will not change that. Roughly another 20 states allow it if a parent signs off, sometimes with additional requirements like being present at the salon. About 18 states have no age-specific rules at all, though individual salons in those states may still require a parent’s signature.
Which State You Live In Decides the Answer
State tanning laws sort into three groups.
The first group is the strictest. 22 states and the District of Columbia completely prohibit anyone under 18 from using commercial indoor tanning equipment, with no parental consent exception. Two of those states allow a narrow medical exception with a physician’s order, but the rest have no workarounds.1American Journal of Public Health. Bills to Restrict Access to and Harm From Indoor Tanning Facilities If you live in one of these states, parental permission is legally irrelevant.
The second group sets partial age thresholds. About 10 states ban tanning for minors under a certain age (typically 14, 15, 16, or 17) while allowing older minors to tan with parental permission. Some require the parent to physically accompany the minor; others accept a signed written consent form. About a dozen more states allow minors of any age to tan as long as a parent or guardian consents.1American Journal of Public Health. Bills to Restrict Access to and Harm From Indoor Tanning Facilities
The remaining 18 states set no specific age restrictions for indoor tanning.1American Journal of Public Health. Bills to Restrict Access to and Harm From Indoor Tanning Facilities Even so, salons in those states often set their own consent rules, so a minor walking in alone may still be turned away.
Because the rules vary so much, the practical first step is checking your state health department’s tanning regulations or calling the facility directly.
What Parental Consent Actually Requires
In states that allow minors to tan with a parent’s approval, “permission” usually means something more formal than a verbal okay. Most consent-based states require written permission from a parent or legal guardian, and many require that parent to appear in person at the salon and sign the form in front of the operator. A phone call or a note sent from home typically will not satisfy the law.
Consent forms usually have an expiration. Depending on the state, a signed form may be valid for a set period like 12 months, a specific number of visits, or until the minor turns 18. Some states require the parent to re-sign annually. The form generally confirms that the parent has read the facility’s health warnings, understands the risks of UV exposure, and agrees that the minor will wear protective eyewear during each session.
A few states go further and require the parent to be physically present during every session, not just the first visit. In at least one state, minors below a certain age need a doctor’s prescription rather than parental permission alone. Because these details vary so much, confirming your state’s specific rule with the health department or the salon before your appointment is the safer approach.
Spray Tanning Is Treated Differently
Almost every state law targeting minors applies specifically to ultraviolet tanning devices: beds, booths, and sunlamps. Spray tanning, which uses the chemical DHA to darken the skin temporarily, is regulated far less. Even in states that ban UV tanning for minors outright, spray tans are usually still available, because the cancer-risk rationale behind UV restrictions does not carry over to a process that involves no ultraviolet radiation.
Some states do require parental consent for minors getting spray tans, and a few set minimum ages, though those thresholds tend to be lower than for UV tanning. Salons also set their own policies, so parental consent may be required for a spray tan even when state law does not demand it.
What Federal Law Does and Does Not Do
The FDA classifies tanning beds and sunlamps as Class II medical devices and requires them to carry a black-box warning stating that they should not be used by anyone under 18.2U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Tanning Products That warning is mandatory on the devices and certain promotional materials. It is a warning, not a ban. The FDA does not prohibit minors from actually using the equipment.
The agency came close to changing that. In 2015, the FDA proposed a federal rule that would have banned all Americans under 18 from using tanning beds nationwide and required adult users to sign a risk acknowledgment before each session.2U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Tanning Products The rule was never finalized. In March 2026, the FDA officially withdrew it, leaving age restrictions entirely to the states.
When a Salon Ignores the Rule
Enforcement falls to state and local agencies, usually health departments, which inspect facilities and follow up on complaints. Consequences vary. In some states a first offense brings a fine in the low hundreds of dollars. Others authorize penalties of $1,000 or more per violation per day, with repeat violations leading to license suspension or revocation. A few states treat violations as misdemeanors, exposing salon operators to criminal charges.
Compliance is uneven in practice. A study of tanning facilities in states with minor bans found that some salons still let underage researchers access tanning beds during test visits.3PubMed Central. Compliance With Indoor Tanning Bans for Minors Among Businesses in the USA The fact that a salon is willing to let a minor tan does not mean the law allows it. If you are under 18 and considering a tanning bed, knowing your state’s rule matters more than what any particular front desk tells you.