Personal appearance services

Higher-risk personal appearance services, such as tattooing and body piercing, operated from fixed, mobile or home-based premises require a licence.  Applications for higher-risk personal appearance services can take up to 40 days to process.

A copy of the Infection control guidelines for personal appearance services (PDF) are to be kept at the premises where the business is conducted.

Anyone at your business who is providing a higher-risk personal appearance service must hold a ‘HLTINF005 – Maintain infection prevention for skin penetration treatments’ qualification. You will need to provide a copy of this qualification before starting your business to Council.

Non-higher risk personal appearance services, such as hairdressers and beauty therapists, do not require a licence but must follow Infection control guidelines for personal appearance services (PDF).

Queensland Health's Personal Appearances Services Categorisation Table provides further information on the above categories and which level of government to contact for further information.

New businesses

• Check with Town Planning to determine if a personal appearance service is permitted in the area. Use our free pre-lodgement service to provide details of your proposal by lodging a General development enquiry online request.
• Check with Trade Waste if you require trade waste approval to dispose of anything other than domestic sewage (liquid from hand basin, shower, bath or toilet) into drains.
• Check with Local Laws if a permit is required.
• Apply for your personal appearances service licence ( PDF, 0.42 MB ). You must ensure that the design and facilities of the premises meet the performance criteria as set out in the Queensland Development Code, MP 5.2. (Refer to the  Queensland Development Code MP 5.2 (PDF) for more information on the requirements of personal appearance services premises.)

Existing businesses and amendments

The personal appearances services licence application form ( PDF, 0.42 MB ) is used to:

• Apply to operate a higher risk personal appearance service
• Amend the licence
• Transfer the operation of a higher risk personal appearance service.

Taking over a business

1. Before you purchase a business, we recommend that you request a Health pre-sales search (Land Record Search). This allows an Environmental Health Officer to inspect the premises, either as a desktop audit or a physical audit, to identify any issues.
2. The vendor (or their legal counsel) will also need to complete and submit this form to authorise Council to release information to you ( PDF, 0.15 MB ).
3. Check if you need Trade Waste approval to dispose of anything other than domestic sewage (liquid from hand basin, shower, bath or toilet) into drains.
4. Submit your application to transfer a licence to operate a personal appearance service ( PDF, 0.42 MB ).