Personal appearance services

Operators of higher risk personal appearance services require a licence under the Public Health (Infection Control for Personal Appearance Services) Act 2003. Higher risk personal appearance services include:

  • body piercing, other than closed ear or nose piercing
  • implanting natural or synthetic substances into a person's skin e.g. hair or beads
  • scarring or cutting a person's skin using a sharp instrument to make a permanent mark or design
  • tattooing including cosmetic tattooing or synthetic makeup.

The Act also contains requirements for non-higher risk personal appearance services. Non-higher risk personal appearance services include:

  • hairdressing
  • beauty therapy.

Operators of non-higher risk personal appearance services are required to comply with hygiene and infection control requirements but are not required to be licensed. 

Find out if you need a higher risk personal appearance licence

Discover if your business needs a higher risk personal appearance services licence or if it needs to comply with infection control measures.

How to apply for a higher risk personal appearance services licence

Operate a personal appearance services business? You may need to apply for a business licence from Council. Learn about the application process.

Managing your personal appearance services licence

Find out about compliance requirements, routine inspections and licence renewals for your higher risk personal appearance services business.

Complaints

If you wish to report a concern about a Personal Appearance Services business, you can lodge a request online.

Council investigates concerns such as:

  • unsafe or unhygienic practices (e.g. not wearing gloves, inadequate cleaning)
  • unlicensed premises.

Council does not investigate concerns about body piercing or tattooing of minors (under 18 years of age).

These complaints should be referred to PoliceLink on 131 444. 

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