Apply for, or amend, a special treatment licence

The process and fee

Any person or business carrying out a special treatment (skin piercing) process, as well as the premises in which they carry out the activity, must be registered with the Council. Special treatments include:

  • acupuncture
  • cosmetic piercing
  • ear piercing
  • electrolysis
  • tattooing
  • semi-permanent skin colouring/microblading

To register you will need to apply using the online form and pay a registration fee. It normally takes six to eight weeks to issue the licence​. The fee is non-refundable and neither the application nor the payment of the fee guarantees that a licence will be issued. You will need to provide the required documents, meet the appointments arranged and maintain contact with the environmental health officer. The Council licenses the premises and the applicant, both of which are included in the fee.

The fee for registration is:

  • Applicant- £321.50
  • Premises- £321.50

The fee for an amendment is:

  • £118
  • £49.50 if it relates to an ear-piercing licence 

During the application process, the Council will visit your premises to ensure the business complies with the local byelaws. You can view the health and safety information and relevant byelaws as PDF files:

When a licence has been issued it will remain valid for as long as the premises are used for licensed treatments. If your business moves to a new address to will need to apply for registration and pay the fee again.

The Council will make periodic inspections of the premises and you must inform the Council if there any changes to the details you provided during your application. ​You can amend your licence details using the online form.