Skin Piercing Licence
| Skin piercing activities are regulated because they have the potential to cause infection if not carried out under appropriate conditions. To offer skin-piercing treatments - including tattooing, acupuncture, ear and body piercing - both the person performing the treatment and the premises must be registered with the local authority. |   |
Regulation summary
The Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 gives local authorities powers to regulate skin piercing activities. The Council has made byelaws under the Act setting out local requirements.
Applying online for a skin piercing registration
Apply for a licence to pierce skin
Applying by email or post for a skin piercing registration
Please complete the registration form and post or email 
us
What does it cost?
You will need to pay a fee for the premises and for each person who will undertake skin piercing. Please see our Fees and Charges page for details of cost.
What happens next?
We aim to acknowledge your application within 3 working days.
We will consider your application and arrange to visit your premises.
It is in the public interest that the authority must process your application before it can be granted. If you have not heard from us within a 35 calendar period, please contact us online if you applied through the UK Welcomes service or using the contact details below.
What happens if something changes?
If you make any changes to your business that relate to the licence, including changes to the premises or the people undertaking skin piercing, you need to tell us so that we can consider if changes to the licence are required.
Tell us about a change affecting your skin piercing registration
Applicant/Licence Holder Redress If you are unhappy about the way that we have dealt with your application, the Council has a formal mechanism for dealing with such issues. Please see our website Comments, Compliments & Complaints or call our Customer Service Team on 01462 474000.
Consumer Complaint
We would always advise that in the event of a complaint, the first contact is made with the trader by you - preferably in the form of a letter (with proof of delivery). If this does not work or do you do not want to contact the trader, please contact us . Where appropriate, you can also obtain advice from Consumer Direct if you are located in the UK or from outside the UK, contact the UK European Consumer Centre.
Other useful contacts
British Association of Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology (BABTAC)
British Association of Skin Camouflage
British Institute and Association of Electrolysis
Guild of Professional Beauty Therapists
Contact Details
Details of how to contact the team can be found on the Housing & Public Protection contact page.
