Skin Piercing Registration

You must register your business premises and the persons undertaking the activities with the council to receive your certificate of registration before you start work.

Our role is to protect the public against the risk of serious infections such as HIV and Hepatitis B or C, and illegal tattooing including tattooing persons under 18 years old (children).

Certain types of skin piercing activities require registration.  This includes registration of business premises and the persons undertaking the activities.

Skin piercing activities which require registration

The skin piercing activities which require registration include:

  • Tattooing
  • Semi-permanent skin colouring (including microblading)
  • Acupuncture
  • Electrolysis
  • Cosmetic piercing (including ear piercing)

*Registration is not required if you are working under the supervision of a registered medical practitioner

Registration process

  1. Complete the online application form/s available above. You will need to register both persons and premises. Please ensure all the information you provide is accurate
  2. You will need to make a payment online after completing the form.
  3. The form will be submitted to out Environmental Health team.
  4. Await contact from an officer to confirm inspection and completion of registration including issuing the relevant certification.

Premise\Business registration fees

You can register the following activities for you premise\business:

  • Tattooing
  • Semi-permanent skin colouring (including microblading)
  • Acupuncture
  • Electrolysis
  • Cosmetic piercing (including ear piercing)

There will be a fee of £199 for the first activity and a fee of £108.50 for each additional activity

Personal registration fees

Acupuncture

£102.50

Tattooing

£102.50

Electrolysis

£102.50

Cosmetic piercing (including ear piercing) 

£102.50

Semi-permanent skin colouring

£102.50

Amended or replacement certificates

If you need to amend or replace a registration certificate there will be a fee of £38. Please email us at healthy@southkesteven.gov.uk or contact us via the 'Contact us' form at the bottom of this page.

Operating at other studios

If you are operating in more than one premise within South Kesteven, each premise must be registered for the activity you are undertaking. There will only be one fee for each person and each activity.

Whilst registration allows you to operate at any other premises registered here, you must contact other authorities if you intend to operate within other districts.

Age of consent

You must be 18 years or older to have a tattoo.  Any person undertaking tattooing in breach of this law will be prosecuted.  Reasonable steps must be taken to ensure persons are over 18 years of age, just like selling alcohol.

Whilst there are no laws currently regarding the cosmetic piercing of children it is strongly advisable to ensure parental/guardian consent is obtained.  You will need to have a policy in place to ensure care of children is properly considered and that you act appropriately.

The law and related guidance

Tattooing and piercing toolkit

Byelaws (local laws)

Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982

Tattooing of Minors Act 1969

Contact us for further information

If you require further assistance please email us at healthy@southkesteven.gov.uk or contact us via the 'Contact us' form at the bottom of this page.

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