Personal appearance services include beauty therapy, hairdressing, nail salons, tattooing, body piercing and other skin penetration procedures. These activities need to comply with the Public Health (Infection Control for Personal Appearance Services) Act 2003 and the Infection control guidelines for personal appearance services.
Some businesses will require a licence.
All personal appearance services licences have an annual expiry date of 30 September. Your renewal notice will be emailed at least 60 days prior to the licence expiration.
As a general rule, you need a licence for higher risk personal appearance services that may involve blood or other body fluids.
You don’t need a licence for the following services:
These services must still meet relevant regulations and guidelines, and planning approval is still required.
A new licence is required before you start operating if you are taking over an existing fixed or mobile personal appearance business.
Submit personal appearance services licence application
Once we receive your application, we will assess it and determine whether your request can be approved.
An Environmental Health Officer may inspect the premises during this process to assess the suitability of the premises. It is important to remember that once the new licence is granted the new holder is responsible for any outstanding requirements that may apply to the premises.
If your proposal includes changing how a site is used, or building or modifying structures, you may need development approval under the Planning Act 2016 and/or other approvals, such as building or plumbing approvals.
Contact us to discuss whether development approval may be required.
Prepare your site plans. Include plans with details of floors, walls, ceiling, lighting, equipment, benches, storage, cleaning (hand wash, wash up, mop filling/emptying areas etc.) and an overall plan of the site.
The facility must meet the requirements for the Public Health (ICPAS) Act 2003 and the Building Code MP5.2.
You will be required to upload your plans and pay a once-off fee for the assessment and approval of your application. View fees.
Submit compliance with Public Health Act 2003 assessment
We will assess your application within 40 days and either issue an information request if further information is required or a preliminary approval to commence constructure/fit-out.
The preliminary approval is not a licence to operate your business. A personal appearance services licence is required prior to operating and is subject to a compliant final inspection.
If approval is granted, a compliance assessment report will be emailed to you, allowing you to start the construction/fit-out of your premises.
Once we receive your application, we will review it and send you a letter outlining the payment required. View fees.
We will assess your application within 30 days and either issue an information request if further information is required or issue the personal appearance services licence.
Amendments can include:
Submit amendment to personal appearance services licence
Submit replacement of personal appearance services licence
You can surrender your personal appearance service licence if you no longer operate or wish to close your business.
Submit surrender of environmental health licence