Acupuncture, tattooing, piercing, electrolysis
You must be registered to practice any of the following types of cosmetic piercing and semi-permanent skin colouring:
- Acupuncture
- Ear piercing
- Electrolysis
- Tattooing
- semi-permanent skin colouring
If you work from a premises, the premises must also be registered.
Apply for a tattooing, acupuncture, piercing or electrolysis licenceFee and process for acupuncture, tattooing, piercing, or electrolysis licence
Licence Fees and Charges 2024 to 2025 - pdf - 235 Kb
We will arrange to carry out an inspection of the premises to check hygiene compliance before deciding if a certificate of registration will be given.
New byelaws to be introduced by Cotswold District Council
Why introduce new byelaws
In 1983 the Council made three separate sets of byelaws under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 covering:
- The practice of acupuncture;
- The business or ear-piercing and electrolysis; and
- The business of tattooing.
Since those byelaws came into effect the treatments offered by the beauty industry have widened. These additional treatments present the same health risks [e.g. blood borne viral transmission] and businesses offering these additional treatments are operating outside the scope of the existing byelaws.
When will the new byelaw come into effect
Cotswold District Council is currently waiting for the Secretary of State for Health for confirmation of the byelaws and these will be on the website shortly. For a draft copy please email ers@cotswold.gov.uk.
What is cosmetic piercing
Cosmetic piercing is any piercing of the body including the ear.
What is semi-permanent skin colouring
Semi-permanent skin-colouring includes for example, micro-pigmentation, semi-permanent make-up and temporary tattooing.
What if I am already registered with Cotswold District Council for tattooing, ear-piercing or electrolysis
Persons and premises already registered for activities covered by section 15 of the current byelaws (i.e. tattooing, acupuncture and electrolysis) do not have to re-register.
Persons and premises already registered for ear piercing shall be counted as registered for cosmetic piercing until that person subsequently provides another form of cosmetic piercing, or until those premises are subsequently used to provide another form of cosmetic piercing (i.e. cosmetic piercing of a part or parts of the body other than the ear), when a new registration would be required.