You need to be registered if you carry out:
- acupuncture
- electrolysis
- micro-needling
- cosmetic piercing
- tattooing
This is governed by the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 – legislation.gov.uk.
Register a skin piercing operator or a premises
Both the person carrying out the treatment and the premises used must be registered. You will need to re-register if you move premises.
You can register online.
Fees and charges
There is a one-off registration fee to register as an operator and another fee to register the business premises.
| Type of application | Fee |
|---|---|
| Operator registration | £197 |
| Premises registration | £357 |
| Guest operator registration* | £52 |
| Registration variation (no visit needed) | £50 |
| Registration variation (visit needed) | £90 |
| Replacement certificate | £26 |
*Guest operator registration is available if you plan to operate in the borough:
- for 30 consecutive days or less
- already hold a valid registration or licence to tattoo with a local authority in the United Kingdom
Byelaws
You must also comply with the byelaws related to your licence. View or download our byelaws below.
Public register
For details of licences we have issued, please contact us.