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Tattooists, Ear-Piercing and Electrolysis - Licence

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Last revised: 8 January 2009

Legislation

To carry out any form of skin piercing (ear piercing, electrolysis, acupuncture or tattooing), both the premises and the person carrying out the piercing need to be registered with the Council and the practice is controlled through compliance with local byelaws.The purpose of registration is to prevent infection of the person whose skin is pierced by following good health & safety practices. Registered skin piercing personnel and premises must comply with byelaws designed to prevent infection.Electrolysis or acupuncture under the control of a doctor is exempt Premises registration: the registration will need to be in the name of the person or company whose business provides the service.
Personal registration : each person who carries out skin piercing also needs a personal registration.At present the law does not cover other forms of body piercing and hence no licensing is required although it is normally expected that body piercers will carry out ear piercing which is licensed. The licence for the premises covers the business at that address, although a person covered by a licence may occasionally operate at other premises.

Byelaws

New applications


If you wish to register your premises and/or yourself for skin piercing, you can download the Application for Registration form (pdf, 26 KB).
Alternatively, or for further advice, please contact our Health & Safety Team on 01380 724911 or email env.health@kennet.gov.ukFollowing the receipt of your application form, your premises will be subject to an inspection by an Environmental Health Officer. The Registration will be issued once the officer is satisfied with the inspection. Your premises will then be subject to a rolling programme of routine health & safety inspections.A registration for the premises will only be issued if they comply with the conditions contained in the adopted byelaws.

Fees & charges

The current registration fee for skin piercing (ear piercing, electrolysis, acupuncture or tattooing) is a 'one off' fee of £110 (this will cover both premises and person if registering both together). NB - although there is no licensing for body piercing, forms of alternative medicine, beauty treatment or massage, such establishments are likely to come within the requirements of the Health and Safety at Work Act.