The information below outlines the laws that concern these activities and explains how to become registered.
Registration with the Council
Part VIII of The Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 is the law that governs the registration of cosmetic piercers (etc.) in Bournemouth.
A person shall not operate a business of cosmetic piercing (etc.) in Bournemouth unless he or she is registered with the Council. This is known as “personal registration”.
A person, who has registered themselves as the proprietor of a cosmetic piercing (etc.) business, must only give the treatment in a premises registered for that purpose. This is known as “premises registration”.
Employees of a cosmetic piercing (etc.) business, where their employer has registered themselves and the business with the Council, do not require their own registration even if they give the treatment themselves.
A self-employed cosmetic piercer (etc.) who rents a room at a registered premises only needs a personal registration.
The law is sufficiently flexible to allow someone (who has registered) to visit people at their request to give them treatment without committing an offence.
Should you wish to register with the Council please complete an application form and return it to the address below.
Please note that the law empowers the Council to charge a fee as part of the application. This fee is currently £145.
When we have received your application it will be necessary for an officer from the Public Safety team to visit you at your premises. Often more than one visit is required. You may find it helpful to invite the officer to your premises at an early stage to show him or her what you are planning. This will help you to avoid last minute alterations or additions and keep within budget.
Application form for registration. (28Kb) PDF
Some of the following documents require Adobe Acrobat Reader to view.
This is a free application available from the Adobe website.
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Byelaws
The Council has adopted byelaws for the purposes of securing the cleanliness of registered premises and persons and the sterilisation of equipment used for piercing.
For a copy of the byelaws click here
Health and Safety
The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 applies to cosmetic piercing (etc.) businesses. It states general duties that employers have towards their employees and general duties employers and the self-employed have to persons other than their employees (e.g. customers).
The following guidance booklets are accessible from the Health and Safety Executive’s website: -
