The Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 Part VIII requires the following types of skin piercing to be registered with the Council:

• Acupuncture
• Tattooing
• Ear-piercing
• Electrolysis

The Local Government Act 2003 amends the 1982 Act to include:

• cosmetic piercing (ear piercing and cosmetic body piercing) and
• semi permanent skin colouring (micropigmentation, semi permanent make up and temporary tattoos).

The Act requires that all premises used for these purposes must be registered with the local authority.

For acupuncture, every individual who practices the art must also be separately registered.

For all other types of piercing, only the responsible person who carries on the business must be separately registered.

Fees

• Premises - initial registration fee £68
• Acupuncture practitioner - initial registration fee £68
• Responsible person carrying on the business of other piercing (tattooing, cosmetic piercing, electrolosis, semi-permanenet skin colouring etc.) - initial registration fee £68

NB  Fees stated are for the period 1 April 2008 - 31 March 2009.

For further information or an application form please contact the Council's Licensing team.