Tattooing, body piercing, hairdressers, nail salons and beauty therapists, as well as other skin penetration activities can spread diseases and cause infections. These activities need to comply with the:
- Public Health (Infection Control for Personal Appearance Services) Act 2003
- Infection Control Guidelines for Personal Appearance Services.
Some personal appearance services have a higher risk of spreading disease or causing infection. Businesses providing higher-risk services require a licence from Council.
When you need a licence
You need a licence to perform the following activities:
- tattooing
- body piercing
- implanting a natural or synthetic substance into a person's skin, for example hair or beads
- scarring or cutting a person's skin using a sharp instrument to make a permanent mark, pattern or design
- cosmetic tattooing/micro-blading/feathering
- Application of semi-permanent make-up
- tattoo removal using micro needles.
When you don't need a licence
You do not need a licence if you perform the following activities:
- non-higher risk personal appearance services, including:
- hairdressing
- beauty therapy (including facial or body treatments, application of cosmetics, manicures or pedicures, application of, or mending artificial nails, hair removal by electrolysis or wax)
- closed ear or nose piercing
- acupuncture
- massage therapy
- tattoo removal using a laser – you don't need a licence from Council but you do need a laser licence issued by Queensland Health
- personal appearance services provided within a health-care facility – you don't need a licence from Council but need to comply with relevant medical legislation.
Starting a new personal appearance business
When starting a new higher-risk personal appearance service business you must obtain relevant planning, building and plumbing approvals before you submit a higher-risk personal appearance service licence application. Contact Council to check for other approvals.
Once you have confirmed the above Council approvals you can complete a Personal Appearance Services Application Form online and select the option 'apply for a design approval for the fit-out of a new personal appearance services business' and submit with the $770 application fee (this is a once-off fee for the assessment and aprpoval of your application).
For further information on the fit-out requirements for your premises, please refer to the Queensland Development Code, Part MP 5.2 – Higher-risk personal appearance services, fit-out guide for operators and the operators checklist for higher risk personal appearance services.
Council will be in contact if further information on your application is required. A preliminary approval letter with approved plans is provided if your fit-out complies with the higher-risk personal appearance services performance criteria.
Please note:
- The preliminary design approval is not a licence to operate your business.
- Once your construction/fit-out is complete, a licence form is required and is subject to a compliant final inspection by a Council officer.
- When you are ready and construction is completed contact Council to:
- Book a final inspection
- Complete a Personal Appearance Services Application Form online and select the option 'apply for a personal appearance services licence for a new business'
- Arrange payment of your pro-rata licence fee
Infection control qualification
Anyone at your business who provides a higher-risk personal appearances service must hold a 'HLTINF005 – Maintain infection prevention for skin penetration treatments' qualification. This course is available from a number of registered training organisations. You need to provide copies of your employees statement of attainment to Council before starting your business.
Tattoo operator licence or tattooist licence
Businesses wanting to give tattoos (body art tattooing) also need a tattoo operator licence from the Office of Fair Trading (OFT). You will need both the OFT licence and Council's higher-risk personal appearance services licence to operate.
If you haven't applied for either licence yet, you are encouraged to apply for the OFT tattoo operator licence first. This will save you time and money.
Resources
Please review the information in Queensland Health's booklet Personal Appearance Services Guide for Businesses.
Mobile personal appearance services
If you are planning to operate from a mobile premises, have a look at Queensland Health's fact sheet Licenced mobile premises providing higher-risk personal appearance services, what the business proprietor needs to know.
Some councils may require notification of businesses that provide non-higher risk personal appearance services - check with Council.
Application process - taking over an existing business
If you are taking over an existing higher-risk personal appearance service business.
- The purchaser is required to complete a Personal Appearance Services Application Form online and select the option 'apply for a personal appearance services licence transfer for an existing business'.
- The current owner is required to complete a seperate Personal Appearance Services Application form online and select the option 'surrender my personal appearance services licence'.
- Once Council receives both forms, an invoice will be emailed to the purchaser for the $370 transfer fee (this is a once-off fee for the assessment and approval of the application) and the pro-rata licence fee (this fee is calculated based on the annual licence fees and is dependent on the remaining time left in the licensing period).
- Council will contact you should additional information be required to process your application.
- When Council approves your application, you can commence operation in accordance with the licence conditions.
- Council will inspect the premises on a regular basis.
You may also apply for a search for information on the current higher-risk personal appearance service and the conditions of the existing approval. This may require written permission from the vendor.
Depending on how long the existing premises has been closed you maybe required to complete a Personal Appearance Services Design Approval form. Contact council to discuss this requirement.
Application process - making changes (amendment)
This process is for making changes to an existing higher-risk personal appearance service business.
Adding extra facilities or renovating your premises could change current planning, building and plumbing approavls. Contact Council to discuss any changes to your premises prior to the commencement of work.
- Submit a higher-risk Personal Appearance Services Application Form online and select the option 'make an amendment/structural change to an existing personal appearance services business'.
- Council will process your application and will contact you should additional information be required.
- When Council approves your plans, you can start construction/fit-out.
- Please check other approvals prior to starting construction.
- Upon completion of the fit-out, contact Council to arrange a final inspection.
- When Council approves your amendment, you can then operate in accordance with the approved conditions.
Renewal of a personal appearance services licence
The renewal of your personal appearance services licence attracts an annual fee.
- A renewal notice is emailed to you not less than 30 days prior to the licence expiry date.
- Licences expire on 30 September each year
- A licence certificate is posted to you once the renewal fee is paid.
Contact Council if you need to amend details on your existing approval or require a copy of your approval.
Routine Inspections
Council officers will conduct routine inspections to monitor compliance of your licence conditions.
Helpful information about related applications
Laser licence
If you are removing a tattoo using a laser you will need a laser licence issued by Queensland Health.