Acupuncture, tattoo and skin piercing registration

You must be registered by your Environmental Health Service, if your business is:

• Acupuncture.
• Tattooing.
• Cosmetic piercing and ear piercing.
• Electric treatments, such as electrolysis.

Apply to Calderdale Council with the correct fee.

• You must comply with local byelaws to be registered.
• We will assess your premises and what you do.
• You must give all the information asked for when you apply.

How to apply

Apply online

• Visit: Apply for a licence from Calderdale Council (GOV.UK).

You can also pay online by debit or credit card. See: fees.

Apply by post

Please download the application form:

Acupuncture, Tattooing, Cosmetic Piercing, Electrolysis or Semi Permanent Skin Colouring Application Form(PDF 130KB)

• When complete and signed, send this to us by post or email.
• When we receive it, we will send you an email which will have:
  • A unique reference number;
  • and a link to our payment page. (You can pay using a debit or credit card.)

You can choose to pay by cheque, which you should post with your application form. (Please make your cheque payable to 'Calderdale MBC'.)

Please note: We will not process your request until we have your application and the full fee.

Fees

• £190 for tattooist, ear piercing and acupuncture registrations.
• £86 for electrolysis registrations.
• £86 for an additional operator (employees only).
• £25 admin charge for any changes or to re-issue a certificate.

Tacit consent

This will not apply.

• It is in the public interest that we must process your application before it can be granted.
• If you have not heard from us within a reasonable period, please contact us.

Why we might refuse a registration

• You have been convicted of an offence under specified acts or you are deemed not to be suitable.
• The premises you intend to use are not suitable. Please see byelaws.
• Your staff do not have the needed professional or technical experience.
• Your business is being carried out in breach of a local Act or Byelaw.
• Your practices do not meet with infection control and public health measures.

If you are refused

• Please contact us.

Byelaws

• Calderdale byelaws for tattooing, cosmetic-piercing, acupuncture and electrolysis(PDF 139KB)

Resources

• Application for a licence from Calderdale Council (GOV.UK).
• Code of Safe Practice (British Medical Acupuncture Society).
• Tattooing and body piercing guidance: Toolkit (Chartered Institute of Environmental Health).
• Electrolysis, piercing, tattooing and micro-pigmentation (Health and Safety Executive).
• Advice and Safe Practice for Body Piercing (Health and Safety Laboratory)(PDF 1.1MB)
• Advice and Safe Practice for Micropigmentation (Health and Safety Laboratory)(PDF 957KB)
• Advice and Safe Practice for Permanent Tattooing (Health and Safety Laboratory)(PDF 1.2MB)

Contact