Vale of White Horse District Council
Abbey House, Abbey Close,
Abingdon, OX14 3JE
Email: comments@whitehorsedc.gov.uk
Telephone: 01235 520202

Vale of White Horse District Council

Tattoo, piercing and electrolysis licences

Local by-laws state that licences are required for business carrying out ear piercing, electrolysis, acupuncture or tattooing. A licence for the premises will need to be in the name of the person or company whose business provides the service. Each person who carries out skin piercing also needs a personal licence.           

Electrolysis or acupuncture under the control of a doctor is exempt.              

A licence for the premises will only be issued if they comply with the conditions contained in the adopted by-law.       

At present the law does not cover other forms of body piercing although it is normally expected that body piercers will carry out ear piercing which is licensed. Also, although there is currently no licensing controls for body piercing, forms of alternative medicine, beauty treatment or massage, such establishments are likely to come within the requirements of the Health and Safety at Work Act. For more information see our Health and safety pages.

These three types of licence will cover the business at that address, although a person covered by a licence may occasionally operate at other premises.            

The business will be subject to routine inspections.          

To apply for one of these licences you need to complete the relevant application form on the right, and send it to the Licensing Unit (see the contact details on the right) together with a copy of your qualification certificate, and the licence fee which is £83 for each person required to be registered and £83 for the premises required to be registered.