Skin piercing establishments
Registration requirements
You must register with the council before carrying out:
- tattooing
- semi-permanent skin colouring
- cosmetic piercing (including ear and body piercing)
- acupuncture
- electrolysis
Exemptions:
- skin piercing carried out by or under the supervision of a registered medical practitioner. This includes dentists and prescribed treatments for acupuncture as part of ongoing medical treatment.
Both the practitioner and the premises must be registered
The aim of registration is to make sure premises are clean and clients are safe. Procedures, equipment, and facilities must be hygienic, prevent the spread of disease, and comply with the general duties of care required by the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
It is illegal to carry out skin piercing activities unless registration has been formally approved.
Botox and filler treatments
You do not need to register as a beautician offering Botox and filler treatments. If your treatments do not penetrate the skin, registration is not required.
However, future licensing requirements are being considered by the government.
You should still have good hygiene practices, infection control, and comply with safety regulations. There is lots of guidance available online for this for example, from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and professional associations.
You may also need planning permission for business use. For more information, visit our Planning and building regulations pages.
Massage and special treatments
No licence is required from the council for massage or other special treatments.
Microneedling
Microneedling is not considered a skin piercing activity under these laws and does not require registration.
Semi-permanent skin colouring
Semi-permanent skin colouring refers to inserting pigment into the skin and includes micropigmentation, derma pigmentation, microblading and cosmetic tattooing.
How to register
- complete an online application
- pay a fee
- undergo an inspection of the premises to ensure compliance with hygiene and safety standards.
Separate certificates for premises and practitioners will be issued and must be displayed on-site. You can complete one application to register a practitioner and premises.
Please note: The application form is interactive and must be downloaded and saved on your device to function correctly. The file will not open properly in your web browser:
- once you have read the Overview
- click on 2. How to apply
- click on the Apply online button
- enter your postcode and click on the Find your local council button
- click on Download the application form (PDF)’
- save the document to your files
- open the document from the saved location
- Apply online: GOV.UK - Tattoo, piercing and electrolysis licence (England and Wales)
Required documents
You will need to provide these documents as part of your application:
- Public liability insurance certificate.
- Relevant qualifications (for microblading, a National Standard Level 4 qualification is required).
- Proof of membership of a relevant trade organisation (if applicable).
Applications should include information on how hygiene and safety practices will be maintained.
Consent
No tacit consent will apply. It is in the public interest for reasons of public health that the authority must process your application before it can be granted. We aim to process applications within two months.
If you have not heard from the authority within a reasonable period, please contact us. You can do this using the contact details on this page.
Registration fees
A one-off fee is payable for both personal registrations and for the business premises. If you are starting a new business you will need to pay both fees.
Application type | Fee |
---|---|
Premises | £271 |
Practitioner (1-3 persons) | £181 |
Variation to treatment | £203 |
Replacement certificate and copy of byelaws | £27 |
Note: A non-refundable application processing fee of £45 applies to all applications.
Byelaws and legislation
Practitioners and premises must comply with:
- West Suffolk skin piercing byelaws
- Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982
- Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
All practitioners are advised to undertake infection control training.
Changes to your registration
You will need to complete an application form and pay the relevant fee:
- New premises: A new registration is required if a business relocates.
- Additional practitioners: Up to three additional practitioners can be added to a registration for £181. If registering four or more, two payments of £181 are required. Visits may be conducted to assess competency.
- New skin piercing activity: Adding additional treatments to an existing registration costs a £203 variation fee. Inspections may be required.
- Removal of practitioner: No charge applies. Email the details to foodandsafety@westsuffolk.gov.uk
Temporary registration
Businesses employing guest practitioners for short term work (for example, visiting tattoo artists) must register them. A reduced temporary registration fee applies for practitioners working fewer than 30 consecutive days. Fees will be confirmed upon application.
More information
- Skin Piercing in Suffolk Guidance on Infection Control in the Workplace
- Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) - Tattooing and body piercing guidance Toolkit
- Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Electrolysis, piercing, tattooing and micropigmentation
- Microblading information leaflet
Trade associations
- British Association of Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology
- British Institute and Association of Electrolysis
- Guild of Professional Beauty Therapists
- The Tattoo and Piercing Industry Union
- General Medical Council (GMC) - A doctor's guide to GMC online
Complaints about skin piercing establishments
We investigate complaints about hygiene, safety, and infection control. Underage tattooing or piercing concerns should be reported to the police.
For more information, contact foodandsafety@westsuffolk.gov.uk