Register a beauty or skin penetration business

What you need to know about registering and starting a beauty or skin penetration business.

Starting a beauty or skin penetration business?

Under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008, your business must be registered with Council if you provide the following services:

Hairdressing
Tattooing
Body and ear piercing
Hair removal by waxing or threading
Colonic irrigation
Facials
Make up
Manicure and pedicure treatments
Dry Needling
Spray Tanning
Eyelash extensions

For any construction or change of use of the building, you may need to contact Council's Building or Planning teams before starting any works.

Expand the sections below to read more on the different kinds of beauty or skin penetration businesses and the associated fees.

Fixed premises

It is recommended that before starting any works that you contact Public Health team to ensure that your premises will comply with the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008.

Before you can begin operating, you must have paid all relevant fees and have had your final inspection from a Public Health Officer. For information on the set-up of a premises under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act please visit the Department of Health's website.

Purchasing an existing business

An application to transfer a public health premises(DOCX, 139KB) must be completed by both the existing and new proprietors and submitted to Council. The transfer of registration will be completed once the transfer fee has been paid.

Please be aware that it is the responsibility of the purchaser to ensure that the premise is compliant.

Home businesses

Before starting your home beauty or skin penetration business, it is recommended that you contact the Public Health team to discuss your business plans.

For home businesses, Council's structural requirements are as follows:

All surfaces to be smooth and impervious (no damage to walls, surfaces do not absorb anything, no carpet)
A supply of potable water
A sink specifically for hand washing that has hot and cold water with a mixer tap and is in the treatment room.
If you are undertaking any skin penetration activities, the hand wash basin must be hands free.
A wash up sink area for your equipment that has hot and cold running water.
No pets in the beauty treatment areas.
Adequate disposal for generated waste from procedures (and a sharps container if required).

Mobile businesses

Mobile hairdressers and beauty therapists are required to register the principal place of business (such as your home) with Council.

All mobile hairdressers and beauty therapists must be registered by Council to comply with the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 and associated regulations.

Mobile tattooing, piercing, and other forms of skin penetration businesses are not permitted to operate under the Act.

Fees

When you apply to register your business with Council, you will be charged two fees:

A once-off establishment fee
A registration fee

The charge for the establishment fee is $165.00

Hairdressing applications are exempt from the establishment fee. A hairdressing registration has a once-off fee and the registration with Council is ongoing.

The registration fee depends on the activities you will be undertaking:

Hairdressing ONLY: $270.00 (once-off fee)
Beauty therapy (eg. waxing, manicure, eyelash extensions): $537.00
Ear piercing: $537.00
Tattooist and skin penetration (eg. cosmetic tattooing, dry needling, piercing other than ears): $716.00

Please be aware that Council's registration fees are pro rata, except for hairdressing, and may differ depending on when the application is submitted to Council.

Email

Step 1.Contact the Public Health team

Depending on the kind of beauty or skin penetration business you're planning, the first step is to contact Council for guidance.

Fixed premises: contact us regarding a plans approval
Purchasing an existing business: contact us regarding a pre-sale inspection
Home business: contact us to discuss your business plans
Mobile business: contact us to discuss the principal place of business

Step 2.Submit your application

Once you have discussed your plans with Council's Public Health team, you can submit your application via email to info@moorabool.vic.gov.au

Step 3.Inspection and payment

Before you can begin operating, you must have paid all relevant fees and have had your final inspection from a Public Health Officer. To organise an inspection please contact us to speak with a member of the Public Health team.

In person

Step 1.Contact the Public Health team

Depending on the kind of beauty or skin penetration business you're planning, the first step is to contact Council for guidance.

Fixed premises: contact us regarding a plans approval
Purchasing an existing business: contact us regarding a pre-sale inspection
Home business: contact us to discuss your business plans
Mobile business: contact us to discuss the principal place of business

Step 2.Submit your application

Once you have discussed your plans with Council's Public Health team, you can submit your application in person at any of the following locations:

Ballan Office
15 Stead Street, Ballan
Open: Monday-Friday 8.30am-5pm

Darley Civic and Community Hub
182 Halletts Way, Darley
Open: Monday to Friday 8.30am-5pm

Lerderderg Library
215 Main Street, Bacchus Marsh
Open: Monday to Friday 8.30am-5pm
Saturday 9am-2pm

Step 3.Inspection and payment

Before you can begin operating, you must have paid all relevant fees and had your final inspection by an Public Health Officer. To organise an inspection please contact us to speak with a member of the Public Health team.