Appearance industries
If you are starting up a new appearance industry business, you need to apply for a Certificate of Registration.
We adopted a new bylaw for appearance industries in 2022. You should this bylaw as it sets out the structural criteria for beauty, nail, tattooing and skin piercers premises and the conduct and practices of the operators.
This bylaw covers anyone offering treatments which might be carried out at beauty salons, cosmetic clinics, spas, shops, or by mobile and/or home-operators.
The bylaw aims to help manage and reduce health and hygiene risks by regulating certain procedures that risk piercing, cutting or burning a person’s skin.
You will need to register your premises with Council annually unless your activity is exempt. Council can also issue a licence for combined Appearance Industries and Hairdressers, who carry out both activities.
Before you apply
Before you apply, you should speak to:
- A Council Planning Officer – to ensure that an appearance industry premises is permitted in the location. There may be special requirements like set operating hours or car parking provisions.
- A Council Building Officer – and submit a Building Consent application if you are building a new premises or altering an existing building, adding specified systems, making structural change, altering plumbing or altering the building’s use (eg transitioning from a gift shop to an appearance industry business)
- A Council Environmental Health Officer – to discuss any questions you have relating to the Hairdresser’s Regulations and submit a floor plan
You should also be familiar with the Appearance Industries bylaw. This sets out the structural criteria for beauty, nail, tattooing and skin piercers premises and the conduct and practices of the operators.
Payment and processing
Fees vary. You can check which fees apply to you here.
Once we have received your application, we will invoice you the appropriate fee.
When your payment has been received, your application will be processed.
You will be contacted by an Environmental Health Officer to arrange an on-site inspection.
After your inspection, if approved, you will then be issued a Certificate of Registration.
You will receive an invoice from us each year to renew your registration.
How to apply
To apply, applicants should visit the ‘Do it online’ page on our website. Click on the ‘Alcohol, food, and health business’ tile where you’ll be taken to first login to or set up and online account before progressing with the application.
Please note that Council staff cannot view any applications which have not yet been ‘submitted’.
Find out more
Contact Environmental Health Officers