Skin piercing

Register of skin piercing premises

Skin piercing activities

• Acupuncture​
• Tattooing
• Semi-permanent skin colouring (for example, micro-blading)
• Cosmetic piercing (includes ear piercing and body piercing)
• Electrolysis

Skin piercing is an industry that is regulated by Breckland Council.

Guidance

• View the byelaws that apply to skin piercing
• Tattooing and Body Piercing Guidance Toolkit (opens new window)
• Skin Piercing Consent Form (PDF) [10KB] (opens new window)
• Micro-Pigmentation Guidance (PDF) [951KB] (opens new window)

How to register

You will need to register the business where the activity will be carried out, and the person(s) who will be doing the activity. If you are providing more than one skin piercing activity, you'll need to register for each activity, these can all be entered on the one application form.

• Skin piercing registration application form

If you're opening a new business premises, then you shouldcheck whether you need to apply for planning permission before you register. If the address was used for a different type of business, you may need to apply for a change of use.

It is an offence to operate without appropriate registration.

Charges

Our current fee for full registration for a new businness premises is £299. This is a flat fee for all types of skin piercing treatments and does not increase if you are applying for more than one type of skin piercing activity.

How to amend your registration

If you are already registered but wish to add or remove named operators from your registration certificate (but are not changing any of the treatments you are registered for at present) there is a reduced administration fee of £55 for this service. You will still need to complete the full application form including all operator names.

What happens next?

If you operate the business premises, we will contact you to arrange a visit. The visit is to check that you comply with the skin piercing byelaws.

We'll ask you questions about your experience and knowledge regarding the activities for which you are registering.