Register a hair, beauty or tattoo business

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If you’re operating a hairdressing business or a business that undertakes skin penetration procedures, you’ll need to register your business with us. This is to ensure your business is safe and meets public health requirements. 

Your premises may also require development approval if you are building a new premises, or renovating an existing one.

Your business may also be routinely checked for compliance with public health legislation and associated guidelines that deal with issues such as cleanliness, sterilisation of equipment, and personal hygiene of staff.

Hairdressers and barber shops

All new hairdressing and barber businesses must be registered with us. Some procedures can make the skin more prone to infection and we need to be sure that you and your staff have knowledge about infection control and hygiene.

If your business is not undertaking skin penetration, you can apply to register your business for free by completing our online form.

Businesses involving skin penetration

You will need to register your business with us if you undertake any skin penetration procedures – unless those procedures are being carried out by a registered health practitioner.

Skin penetration procedures include:

  • hair removal (wax or electrolysis)
  • acupuncture/dry needling
  • tattooing / cosmetic tattooing
  • ear and body piercing
  • colonic lavage
  • cuticle cutting
  • microdermabrasion / hydrodermabrasion
  • any other beauty treatment which involves the deliberate penetration of and / or removal of skin.

NSW Health have further information and fact sheets about the skin penetration industry.

Register your business by completing our online application.

There’s a one-off registration fee for new premises only. You can find the registration fee in our Fees and Charges(PDF, 6MB) under public health. You’ll need to notify us within 7 days if any of the details on the form change.

All premises

  • The design of all new beauty salons or premises undertaking skin penetration procedures, whether from home, mobile or a commercial premises must comply with the requirements of the Local Government (General) Regulation 2005 and the Public Health Regulation 2012.
  • Mobile businesses must comply with the same requirements for a fixed premises.
  • Premises that carry out skin penetration may require development approval before you operate.
  • Your premises may be routinely inspected, and this may incur a fee(PDF, 6MB).
  • For further information regarding the fit-out of a beauty salon contact one of our Environmental Health Officers on (02) 6581 8111.