Skin piercing treatments include:
- tattooing
- acupuncture
- electrolysis
- cosmetic piercing
- ear piercing
- semi-permanent skin-colouring
If you run a business involving any of these treatments, you must register with us.
If you undertake tattooing, semi-permanent skin colouring, cosmetic piercing, electrolysis or acupuncture, both the person providing that treatment as a business and also the premises where it takes place need to be registered with the local Council.
The council has Byelaws (PDF, 91KB) on the standards that must be in place at a premises. Any premises registered will need to comply with the Council Byelaws for piercing establishments.
There is also a good practice guide on piercing from the Institute of Environmental Health that can provide useful information for particular types of piercing.
It is in the public interest that the authority must process your application before it can be granted. If you have not heard from the local authority within the target completion period of 28 days, please contact us.
If a registration is suspended or cancelled the registration holder may appeal to the County Court.
If you wish to make a complaint about an operator, please complete the Licensing Complaints Form.