Acupuncture, skin piercing, electrolysis and tattooing
Environmental Health registers people who practice acupuncture or who run a business offering tattooing, semi-permanent skin colouring, electrolysis, or cosmetic piercing including ear piercing.
Southampton City Council has adopted byelaws for acupuncture, tattooing, semi-permanent tattooing, cosmetic piercing and electrolysis to ensure good standards of cleanliness and hygienic practice.
Who needs to register
Two types of registration are required:
- Each person who practices acupuncture, or who runs a business offering tattooing, semi-permanent skin colouring, cosmetic piercing (including ear piercing), or electrolysis
- Each premises where these activities are undertaken
Mobile practitioners still need to register themselves at their home address.
Planning Permission may also be required to operate a business from a domestic property, so before applying for a Licence to operate from a domestic property you are advised to contact the council’s Planning department for further advice. Email planning.enforcement@southampton.gov.uk to check whether Planning Permission is required.
Exceptions
If you are a registered medical practitioner, or operate under the direct supervision of a registered medical practitioner, then you do not need to register.
Individual employees of a business do not need to be registered, except for acupuncture in which case every acupuncturist needs to be registered.
Fees
The fees are currently £160.00 for the premises and £91.00 for each practitioner.
If you only pierce ears, then there are reduced fees of £91.00 for the premises and £52.50 for each practitioner.
These fees are paid on registration only; you don’t need to renew. Please use the form below if you wish to confirm the fee you need to pay.
Before you fill in this form
You won't be able to save this form to complete later, so please allow yourself at least five minutes to fill in the form.
Please note our Guidance on uploading an image.
If you or the premises concerned are already registered with Southampton City Council, but there has been a change for example a self-employed practitioner has moved to new premises, you will not need to pay an additional fee for this.
Apply for a licence
Application for a licence to carry out acupuncture, tattooing, piercing and/or electrolysis.
Before you fill in this form
You won't be able to save this form to complete later, so please allow yourself a couple of minutes to fill in the form.
Although this online form can be completed on a mobile phone, due to the length of this form we recommend you use a desktop, laptop or tablet.
Please note our Guidance on uploading an image.
You will need:
A payment card, Apple Pay or Google Pay*
If you would like to make a change to an existing licence, you can complete this online form
Before you fill in this form
You won't be able to save this form to complete later, so please allow yourself a couple of minutes to fill in the form.
Although this online form can be completed on a mobile phone, due to the length of this form we recommend you use a desktop, laptop or tablet.
Please note our Guidance on uploading an image.
What happens next
We will process your application and send you a registration certificate and receipt for your payment within 15 working days.
Inspectors are likely to make a site visit to new premises and speak to new practitioners to check hygiene standards and practices. This will be carried out before the registration certificate is released.
If we are unable to send these within this timescale, we will contact you to explain the reason for the delay.
Remember that tacit consent will not apply
It is in the public interest that Southampton City Council must process your application before it can be granted.
If you have not heard from us within a reasonable period, please contact us. You can do this online if you applied through the UK Welcomes service or use the contact details below.
Redress
If you are not satisfied with the process for registering people who practice acupuncture or who run a business offering tattooing, semi-permanent skin colouring, electrolysis or cosmetic piercing including ear piercing, please contact:
Consumer Protection and Environmental Services
Southampton City Council
Civic Centre
Southampton SO14 7LY
Before you fill in this form
You won't be able to save this form to complete later, so please allow yourself at least five minutes to fill in the form.
Please note our Guidance on uploading an image.
