Skin piercing licence - Print version

About skin piercing

There are a number of activities that involve the use of needles to pierce the skin. The law states that these activities must be conducted in a manner that is safe and hygienic. We are responsible for registering such businesses, and inspecting them to ensure that they pose no risk to the public.

The Local Government (miscellaneous provisions) Act 1982 Part VIII [https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1982/30/part/VIII] requires the following types of skin piercing to be registered with the Council:

• acupuncture
• tattooing
• cosmetic piercing (the piercing of someone’s body) including: ear/nose piercing & body piercing
• electrolysis
• semi-permanent skin colouring (the insertion of semi-permanent colouring into a person’s skin) including: microblading & all types of semi-permanent tattooing
• micro-needling

Other new and emerging treatments such as Botox, fillers, PDA threads and mesotherapy are not covered by the byelaws so do not currently legally require a registration licence from us.

Please be aware you if you are carrying out any of the treatments not currently covered by the byelaws you are still legally responsible to ensure you are following all health and safety requirements plus any other laws that apply (for example the Botulinum Toxin and Cosmetic Fillers (Children) Act 2021 [https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2021/19/contents/enacted] that came into force on 1 October 2021 which makes it an offence to administer Botox or fillers on under 18s).

As a practitioner, you must make sure that you have adequate training in the procedures you wish to carry out and also suitable knowledge and extremely high standards of infection control. There are a number of courses available online if you search for "tattoo/piercing infection control course".

The principles of the CIEH Tattoo and Skin Piercing Toolkit [https://www.cieh.org/media/2004/tattooing-and-body-piercing-guidance-toolkit-july-2013.pdf] and the byelaws [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/30675/skin_piercing_byelaws] should be followed for all invasive cosmetic treatments.

If you would like more in depth, bespoke advice in relation to these requirements, we now offer a paid for advisory service [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/health-safety-work/food-safety-advisory-service] please take a look at the webpages or email us for more information.

Eligibility criteria

There are no powers to refuse registration, but the practice is controlled through compliance with bye-laws in each case.

The CIEH has produced a tattoo toolkit [https://www.cieh.org/media/2004/tattooing-and-body-piercing-guidance-toolkit-july-2013.pdf] that provides advice and guidance on safe and hygienic tattooing and body piercing.

Byelaw requirements

Applicants must comply with the local by-laws made under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982. You can download a copy of the requirements [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/30675/skin_piercing_byelaws].

In summary: (please read the guidelines in full prior to applying)

Premises

• All surfaces in any part of the premises used by clients must be kept clean and in good repair.
• All floors/walls/ceiling in the treatment area must be smooth, impervious materials which are easy to clean and disinfect (no carpets).
• All furniture and fittings in the treatment area must be kept clean and in good repair.
• Tables, couches, seats etc used in the treatment area must have a smooth, impervious surface that is regularly wiped down with disinfectant and covered by a disposable paper sheet, changed after each client.
• The treatment area requires a sink with hot and cold running water for handwashing and a separate sink for cleaning equipment.
• A 'No Smoking' and 'No Eating' sign must be prominently displayed.

Cleanliness of operatives

• Any protective clothing worn by the operative should be clean and in good repair.
• The operative's hands and nails must be kept clean.
• Any open cut, wound, sore or boil must be suitably covered by an impermeable dressing.
• The operative should not smoke, nor drink, in the treatment area.
• The operative should have sole use of the washing facilities which must provide hot and cold running water, soap (or a similar cleanser).

Equipment

• Any needle, metal instrument or other item of equipment used in the treatment must be in a sterile condition, and kept sterile until it is used.
• If pre-sterilised items are not used then adequate facilities must be provided for the purpose of sterilisation.
• If tattooing is being undertaken, then all dyes used must be bacteriologically clean and inert. The containers used to hold dyes for each customer must be disposed of at the end of each treatment or sterilised before re-use.

General

• It is an offence to tattoo any person under the age of 18 years (the Tattooing of Minors Act 1969) regardless of parental consent.
• A person under the age of 18 years may receive body piercing - provided that you have received written permission from, or the treatment is performed in the presence of, the person's parent or guardian.
• Nipple and genital piercing are prohibited on minors, regardless of parental consent.
• The health of the client and the suitability of the treatment should be discussed prior to its administration.

Apply for a skin piercing licence

A full review of our skin piercing policy and fees has been undertaken. Read the new policy. [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/licensing-regulation/skin-piercing-licence/7]

Our skin piercing fees [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/licensing-regulation/skin-piercing-licence/5].

Apply for a skin piercing licence [https://myaccount.coventry.gov.uk/service/tattooing_and_Skin_Piercing_Registration_Application] 

Application process

• Once the application is received an officer will contact you to give advice and arrange an inspection of your premises, we aim to carry out an inspection within 28 days of your application date - but this can vary due to individual officer's workloads.
• Once the inspection has been completed, you will be informed of any works required to bring the premises up to the required standard.
• The applicant is asked to contact the officer to arrange a revisit to the premises if necessary, once remedial works have been completed.
• A registration certificate will be issued which must be displayed at the premises.
• If any new practitioners wish to operate from the premises in the future, you will need to ensure that they are also registered.

Tacit consent

Tacit consent does not apply to this licence. It is in the public interest that the authority must process your application before it can be granted. Our policy is to process applications within 28 days of receipt of application.

Charges

A full review of our skin piercing policy and fees has been undertaken. Read the new policy. [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/licensing-regulation/skin-piercing-licence/7]

From 1 October 2024, the following fees will apply:

Fees for skin piercing licence

Type of skin piercing application / activity	Fee
Registration of a premises	£208
Registration of an individual practitioner	£208
Combined registration of premises and individual practitioners (i.e., at the same visit) (charge made for one premises inspection and then each individual practitioner in addition).	A) Inspection of premises - £208 plus B) Registration of individual practitioner whilst undertaking a premises registration visit - £84/ practitioner. E.g. Registration of a new skin piercing business and 1 practitioner is £208 + £84 = £292 Registration of a new skin piercing business and 2 practitioners is £208 + £84 + £84 = £376
Combined registration of practitioners at same premises at same time   (i.e., at the same visit) (charge made for one practitioner and then each further practitioner in addition)	A) Inspection of practitioner - £208 plus B) Registration of further practitioner at same visit - £84/ practitioner. E.g. Registration of a new skin piercing practitioner and 1 further practitioner at same visit is £208 + £84= £292 Registration of a new skin piercing practitioner and 2 further practitioners at same visit is £208 + £84 + £84 = £376
Registration of additional treatments by practitioner after initial visit	£155
Variation of registration e.g., change of name, registered practitioner moving to another registered premises; or certification for an operator working at a studio or convention on a temporary basis (they must be registered at their home authority to be able to apply for this)	£68
Extra copies of certificates of registration	£42

Supplementary information

There is a list of documents required with the application, such as insurance certificate, waste contract for clinical waste, training certificates etc.

Right of appeal

There is no right of appeal.

Length of licence

The licence is ongoing and does not need to be renewed.

Change of circumstance

Please look at our skin piercing policy

Advice and guidance

The CIEH has produced a tattoo toolkit [http://www.cieh.org/media/2004/tattooing-and-body-piercing-guidance-toolkit-july-2013.pdf] that provides advice and guidance on safe and hygienic tattooing and body piercing.

The UKHSA has also produced some guidance for ear and cosmetic piercing businesses [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pseudomonas-aeruginosa-perichondritis-associated-with-ear-piercings/pseudomonas-aeruginosa-perichondritis-associated-with-ear-piercings-information-for-ear-and-cosmetic-piercing-businesses]. It seeks to raise awareness about potentially serious complications from upper ear or cartilage piercing, caused by bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and encourages ear and cosmetic piercing businesses to follow good infection prevention and control practices.

In-depth advice

If you would like more in-depth, bespoke advice in relation to these requirements, we now offer a paid for advisory service [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/health-safety-work/food-safety-advisory-service]. 

Skin Piercing Policy

Introduction

There are a number of activities that involve the use of needles to pierce the skin. Over the years these have become more popular and fashionable, with the range of procedures increasing.

Coventry City Council, under The Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 (the Act) Part VIII require persons carrying out skin piercing and the premises to be registered with the Council.

The law states that these activities must be conducted in a manner that is safe and hygienic. The Regulatory Services team for Coventry City Council are responsible for registering such businesses, and inspecting them to ensure that they do not pose a risk to the public.

The main aim of registering skin piercing activities is to protect members of the public from the transmission of blood borne viruses such as HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and other infections, which can have serious and long-term health effects.

The Council has approved byelaws [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/30675/skin_piercing_byelaws] that set out the standards for the hygienic operation of skin piercing premises. Persons carrying out skin piercing must comply with these byelaws.

Registration consists of two elements:

• the person who will be carrying out the skin piercing
• and the place where the skin piercing takes place.

This policy details the legislation and associated guidance to encourage and support safe practice and sets out Coventry City Council’s requirements for the registration of businesses that carry out skin piercing activities.

Legislation and guidance

The aim of the legislation is to ensure that infection control arrangements are adequate and effectively applied wherever tattooing or skin piercing activities are carried out.

The Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 [https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1982/30/contents] allows Local Authorities to make provisions for the registration of premises and persons carrying on the practices of acupuncture, tattooing, ear piercing or electrolysis.

The Local Government Act 2003 [https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/26/contents] added semi-permanent skin colouring and cosmetic piercing to this list of activities for which registration can be required.

Coventry City Council have adopted byelaws [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/30675/skin_piercing_byelaws] covering all activities that are regulated by the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 for the purpose of securing:

• The cleanliness of premises and fittings in such premises.
• The cleanliness of persons so registered and persons assisting persons so registered in their practice and;
• The cleansing and, so far as is appropriate, the sterilization of instruments, materials and equipment used in connection with the registered practices.

The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 [https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1974/37/contents] applies to all persons engaged in tattooing and skin piercing activities for gain or reward. It provides a means of securing effective infection control under the general duty to ensure the health, safety and welfare of their employees and a duty of care to ensure their activities do not expose them or the general public to risks to their health and safety. This would be enforced by the Health and Safety Executive if the business was operated from within a domestic premises.

The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 [https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1999/3242/contents/made] require employers to undertake a risk assessment of their work activities and remove or implement controls to reduce these risks. The risk assessment is a careful examination of what work activities could cause harm to people and this then guides decisions about precautions that need to be implemented, including infection prevention and control measures. Where there are 5 or more employees this risk assessment must be documented.

The Health Protection (Part 2A Orders) Regulations 2010 [https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2010/658/contents/made] provide updated local authority powers to deal with incidents or emergencies where infection or contamination presents a significant risk to human health. These include powers to allow local authorities to obtain an order (Part 2A Order) from a Justice of the Peace that impose restrictions or requirements to protect the health of the public.

Tattooing and body piercing guidance toolkit [https://www.cieh.org/media/2004/tattooing-and-body-piercing-guidance-toolkit-july-2013.pdf] - this guidance provides robust and consistent guidance on standards of hygiene and safety. The guidance has been written as a key point of reference for use nationally by tattoo and body piercing practitioners who work in regulated premises, local authority officers and health protection staff.

Registration Requirements

A business that undertakes one or more of the following practices will be required to register with Coventry City Council:

• acupuncture
• tattooing
• cosmetic piercing (the piercing of someone’s body) including: ear/nose piercing & body piercing
• electrolysis
• semi-permanent skin colouring (the insertion of semi-permanent colouring into a person’s skin) including: microblading & all types of semi-permanent tattooing
• micro-needling

The premises being used for that purpose along with all persons undertaking that activity must be also registered by the Council.

Skin piercing being carried out under the supervision of a registered medical practitioner do not require registration under these provisions.

Business operators must complete a registration form and submit it with the correct fee at least 28 days prior to commencing the proposed activity. Applications and payments should be made online. Upon receipt of application, it will be allocated to an officer who will then carry out an inspection prior to the opening date.

Applications and payment also need to be made:

• If additional treatments are to be carried out at a registered premises after the initial inspection visit has been carried out. The fee for additional treatments will apply.
• If a new business opens within an existing business or moves premises. The full registration fee for the premises will be payable, together with the fee for re-issuing of registration certificates for existing operators.
• If the business moves to another premises. The full registration fee for the premises will be payable, together with the fee for re-issuing of registration certificates for existing operators.
• If additional practitioners who are currently not registered in Coventry are to practice at a registered premise. The fee for operators will apply.

Applications must be made 28 days prior the treatment being carried out / operator practicing. When these applications are received, an Officer will arrange to visit.

An application will be needed to be made to vary a registration. A visit is not required for variations. This will include for example:

• Change of name of practitioner (if this is still the same person)
• Change of name of business.
• Where a practitioner registered with Coventry City Council moves to a different premises already registered with Coventry City Council for that activity.
• Where a practitioner registered outside of Coventry operates on a temporary basis at a premises registered with Coventry City Council. This will include an operator working at a studio or tattoo convention on a temporary basis.

A business/practitioner must not practice until a certificate has been issued for the person and premises.

A personal registration certificate will only be issued when it is associated with a registered premises. If a person is looking to operate outside Coventry City Council’s boundary, they will need to contact the relevant local authority.

Registration Fees

Fees have been set according to Officer costs and administration involved in processing applications and will be revised bi-annually in accordance with Officer costs.

An up to date list of fees will be made available on the Council’s web site and will be for the following areas:

• Registration of a premises
• Registration of a practitioner
• Combined registration of a premises and practitioner
• Registration of additional treatments at registered premises
• Variation of registration
• Replacement copy of certificate

Enforcement

Proprietors must take all reasonable steps to ensure persons working on the premises comply with these byelaws along with health and safety legislation as detailed in section 2.

The proprietor of a business will be informed in writing detailing any areas of non-compliance along with the remedial work required and the timescale in which it is to be undertaken.

Enforcement powers, including improvement or prohibition notices under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 may be used to secure compliance. Any enforcement action will be in line with the Council’s Enforcement Procedure.

It is a criminal offence to trade without registration or to be in breach of the relevant byelaws. Any person that contravenes the byelaws shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine. A person’s registration may also be suspended or cancelled by a Magistrate in addition or instead of imposing a fine. A premises registration may also be suspended or cancelled if such premises are occupied by a person found guilty of an offence.

Registration Certificates

Once a satisfactory inspection has been carried out, the operator(s) will be issued with a registration certificate authorising them to undertake the procedures listed at the registered premises.

Registration certificates must be prominently displayed along with a copy of the byelaws, in a public area within the premises. Registration certificates are only valid at the premises stated on them.

The registration is mandatory in that the local authority must issue a registration if the application has been appropriately made. A registration can only be refused where a person has previously been convicted of an offence under section 16(1) or (2) of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 and the convicting Magistrate cancelled the previous registration. A registration can only be cancelled by a Magistrate upon conviction of an offence, and this is in lieu of a fine.

Once a business and/or operator cease trading they should notify the Authority, as soon as possible.

Right of Appeal

Anyone wishing to appeal a decision made must do so in writing to the Council’s Food and Safety Manager, Nicola Castledine, in writing to Regulatory Services, Coventry City Council, PO Box 7097, Coventry,CV6 9SL, by phone 024 7697 5503 or by email at nicola.castledine@coventry.gov.uk [mailto:nicola.castledine@coventry.gov.uk]

Review

This policy will be reviewed every three years or earlier should there be any changes in law and practice. The fees section shall be updated online following the annual review of the Council’s fees and charges.

Last reviewed February 2023