Hair, beauty, tattooing and skin penetration industries

The Victorian Government has made it easier for hairdressing and low-risk beauty therapy businesses to stay registered.

If your business only provides hairdressing and/or low-risk beauty therapy services, you can now apply for ongoing registration instead of renewing each year. Proprietors of businesses that offer one or more of the services described below are eligible to apply for ongoing registration.

Hairdressing is defined as:

• cutting hair with scissors or razors
• colouring and styling of hair

Low risk beauty therapy is defined as:

• temporary make up
• henna tattoos
• spray tans
• eyelash and eyebrow tinting.

When do you need to apply for a new registration?

From 1 March 2016, you must apply for a new ongoing registration if:

• You are opening a new business
• Your business is moving to a new location
• You are selling or transferring the business to someone else

How do I apply?

Submit your application

What happens after you apply?

Council will assess your application and conduct an on-site inspection. Once approved, Council will issue a new ongoing Certificate of Registration. If you sell or transfer the business you must notify council and the new owner will need to submit a new application to receive their own certificate.

Registration Requirements for High-Risk Beauty and Personal Services

If your business offers high-risk services, you will still need to follow the existing periodic (usually annual) registration requirements. These services include:

• Tattooing
• Body piercing or any other skin penetration procedures
• Colonic irrigation

• Beauty therapy services such as:

•  Permanent or semi-permanent make-up (cosmetic tattooing)
•  Facial or body treatments
•  Manicures or pedicures
•  Applying or repairing artificial nails
•  Hair removal using electrolysis or waxing

What this means for your business

Your registration will need to be renewed periodically, and a renewal fee will apply each time.

These requirements help ensure that your business continues to meet important health and hygiene standards.

If you’re unsure whether your services are considered high-risk, call our Environmental Health team for guidance on (03) 5422 0333.

How to apply

Submit your registration application

If you are purchasing an existing business, prior to settlement, you must submit the Transfer of Registration form(DOCX, 175KB)/Transfer of Registration form(PDF, 328KB) and pay the prescribed fee to Council. Penalties may apply if you do not submit this information to council before taking over.

Why?

Registration is linked to both the specific premises and the individual operator, not the business itself. This helps ensure that each new owner is aware of their legal obligations and that the premises continues to comply with current public health and hygiene standards.

Things to consider when buying

• Check that the existing premises comply with current health regulations — this can avoid costly upgrades after purchase.
• Confirm whether any works or renovations are needed to maintain compliance.
• Ensure all equipment is clean, maintained, and appropriate for use.

Contact our health department to organise a pre-purchase inspection as this will provide you with a report detailing the condition of the premises. You will need to complete an Pre-purchase Inspection form(DOCX, 169KB)/ Pre-purchase Inspection form(PDF, 235KB) and pay the prescribed fee before the inspection can be undertaken.

Will I need a planning permit?

You will likely need a planning permit if:

• The premises has never been used for this type of business before.
• The land zoning requires a permit for that type of use.
• You plan to extend or renovate the premises.
• The business will cause changes to things like:

• Traffic/parking demand
• Noise levels
• Waste generation
• Hours of operation

You usually won’t need a planning permit if:

• The business continues the same type of use (e.g., hairdresser stays a hairdresser).
• There’s no change to the way the premises operates (e.g., no changes to hours, signage, parking, or fit-out that affects planning rules).
• The existing business had all relevant planning approvals in place.

Tip: Ask the current owner for copies of their planning permit(s) and confirm with Council whether they are still valid. Visit Planning and Building - Do I need a Permit for more information.

Will I need a building permit?

You'll likely need a building permit if:

• Building a new premises.
• Structural alterations (e.g., removing or adding walls, creating new doorways).
• Installing new sanitary facilities (toilets, sinks, etc.).
• Significant internal fit-outs (especially in food premises, beauty salons, tattoo studios).
• Installing or altering fire safety equipment (sprinklers, fire doors).
• Changing the layout in a way that affects exits, accessibility, or essential services.

Visit Planning and Building - Do I need a Permit for more information.

Can I put a sign out the front?

Yes! But you will need a Roadside and Footpath Trading Permit. Visit Do I need an A-Frame and Street Furniture Permit? for more information.

Where can I get more information on running a beauty therapy business?

The Health Guidelines for Personal Care and Body Art Industries help businesses comply with the Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2019 by providing information on infection control. You can also view the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 for more information.