Health and beauty businesses

If you are planning to start a new personal care or body art premises there are a number of requirements which must be met. 

Multiple permits may be required depending on your needs and circumstance. You may require a planning permit and/or a permit for building works if you plan to change the use of an existing building.  A building surveyor can advise on building permits if required and safety requirements for commercial premises.  You should also contact Council’s Planning Department on 03 5471 1700 to determine whether you will require a planning permit.

You can also complete our business permit navigator which can provide further assistance in your enquiries.

Contact the Public and Environmental Health team on 03 5471 1700 to determine requirements under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act. 

We recommend you download and submit your plans for comment to the Environmental Health team(DOCX, 159KB) and your building surveyor before final plans are drawn or building works commence. This will ensure all requirements are met before spending time and money on final works. Plans will generally be processed within 14 working days. 

You will also need to download and complete the Application for Registration of a Health Premises(PDF, 126KB).

If you are thinking of buying an existing business we advise that you contact Council’s Environmental Health team to:

• Find out if the business has current registration
• Organise a pre-transfer inspection of the business which ensures the premises complies with the requirements of the Public Health and Wellbeing Act

We also advise that you contact a local building surveyor to determine any building requirements.

Once the business has been purchased a transfer application form must be completed and returned to the Public and Environmental Health team with the appropriate fee.

Download and submit the Application to Transfer Registration of a Health Premises(PDF, 314KB).

Operators of personal care and body art businesses must renew their business registration each year. 

Apply online for your Renewal of Registration of a Health and Beauty Business.

Personal care or body art businesses are regularly inspected to ensure that correct hygiene and safe practices are being carried out by the proprietors. This ensures that all facilities are maintained to a satisfactory standard and kept in a clean condition.

The Department of Health and Human Services has developed the Infection Prevention and Control Guidelines for hair, beauty, tattooing and skin penetration industries. The guidelines area a great resource and assist businesses to comply with the Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2009.