Beauty services and tattooing
This page is aimed at hairdressers, barbers and skin penetration businesses that include:
- hair removal (wax or electrolysis)
- tattooing
- ear and body piercing
- colonic lavage
- cuticle cutting
- microdermabrasion
- dermablading/planing.
Depending on the previous use of the business you may need Council approval to fit out your shop.
Speak to Council’s Duty Planner on 02 6670 2400 to find out if any planning approvals are needed.
Renovation
If you're renovating or making changes to the layout:
- You will need to provide draft plans of the beauty or tattooing premises - download the Fit-out guide for operators(PDF, 261KB)
- Submit an Application for Approval of Skin Penetration Fit-out Plan and pay the required fee (this is separate to planning approvals).
When you're ready to trade, arrange a final fit-out inspection with Council's Environmental Health Officer on 02 6670 2400, and submit a skin penetration and hairdressing approval.
If you're taking over an existing business and not making any changes, submit a Beauty and Skin Penetration Premises Registration Form to notify Council of your business before you operate.
Submit a skin penetration activities fit-out plan
Pre-purchase advice
If you're looking to purchase an existing beauty salon or tattooing shop business, Council offers 2 types of pre-purchase checks to help your decision making:
- pre-purchase: records search only
- pre-purchase: inspection report and records search
The applicant is to arrange a suitable time between Council and the business owner to conduct the inspection.
To carry out a pre-purchase check complete a conveyancing application. Fees apply.
Fees
Skin penetration fit-out and annual administration: See fees and payments
Public health regulations
If you're starting a new business or renovating an existing one to include skin penetration activities, you must make sure it complies with the Public Health Regulation 2022 - NSW Legislation.
See the guides below for more information:
Body art tattooing businesses and tattooists who operate in NSW must be licensed with NSW Fair Trading.
Fees
Annual registration (includes one inspection): See fees and payments.
Hairdressers and barbers
Hairdressers and barbers that only cut hair are exempt from annual inspections and fees associated with skin penetration registration.
Acupuncture and other medical treatments
You do not need to register with Council if your business is already registered with AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency).