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This section provides information on the issuing of commercial licences for personal appearance services.

What does Council licence?

Only Higher-Risk Personal Appearance Services (HRPAS) activities require a licence with Council.  They have the potential to spread diseases such as HIV, Hepatitis B and C and are licensed so that the businesses hygiene practices can be monitored to reduce the risk of spreading these diseases

These activities include:

  • tattooing (both body art, cosmetic and semi-permanent tattooing);
  • body piercing (does not include ear and nose piercing with a gun);
  • implanting natural or synthetic substances into a person’s skin (for example hair or beads, anti-wrinkle products, fillers or other cosmetic products);
  • Scarring or cutting a person’s skin using a sharp instrument to make a permanent mark, pattern or design; and tattoo removal by means of penetrating the skin by methods other than using a laser.

Queensland Health has categorised the types of activities in the Personal Appearance Services Categorisation Table.

Activities defined as low-risk activities do not require a licence and include:

  • ear and nose piercing with a gun,
  • hairdressing,
  • beauty services such as waxing, nail sculpting/enhancing, electrolysis, make-up and topical skin treatments,
  • laser tattoo removal,
  • acupuncture, and
  • massage therapy

Personal appearance services provided in a health care facility are exempt and do not need a licence as they are managed under relevant medical legislation.

Activities that don’t require a licence can spread other infections such as cold sores, ringworm, nits and scabies and may accidentally puncture the skin.  Operators must also follow the Queensland Health Infection Control Guidelines for Personal Appearance Services, and all other relevant requirements imposed by other laws.

Training

Business operators must ensure that anyone carrying out Higher Risk Personal Appearance Services have completed mandatory training HLTINF005 – Maintain Infection Prevention for Skin Penetration Treatments by a registered training organisation and prior to carrying out any procedures.  Previous courses HLTIN402C, HLTIN402B or HLTIN2A are also acceptable.  A copy of the completed training must be submitted with the licence application as it’s a mandatory pre-requisite to issuing the licence.

Queensland Health guideline for businesses - Health Guidelines

Mobile Activities

If you have a Queensland Higher Risk Personal Appearance Services licence for your mobile vehicle you may operate within the Ipswich City Council local government area with this licence however, you must contact Ipswich City Council at least seven (7) days prior to starting.  Please email publichealth@ipswich.qld.gov.au to notify and include a copy of your current licence in pdf format.

Queensland Health guideline for mobile businesses - Mobile Guidelines

Prior to applying for a licence with Ipswich City Council, you must ensure you have the appropriate approvals in place for your business.  For information on any approvals you might need, including development, planning and design approvals, and to apply for the licence, follow the stages below

Stage One: Approvals needed prior to licencing

Before applying for a licence, you must ensure you obtain all relevant approvals.  A licence does not constitute approval for any other aspects of your operation.

Prior to starting any business for High-Risk Personal Appearance Services, you must check with Council's Planning and Regulatory Services Department to ensure that the land/property where the business is based is suitable for your intended use.
If your business involves new or altered structures, you may also require building and/or plumbing approvals.

For more information visit Ipswich Planning, contact by email or phone (07) 3810 6888.

Development Approval

Council’s Planning Scheme guides how land can be used and developed, including the suitability of a location for a business or different business types.

Personal Appearance Service businesses may need planning approval for these activities:

  • starting a new personal appearance service business;
  • changing the type of activity (e.g., from office space to tattooist);
  • re-establishing a personal appearance service business that was abandoned;
  • changing the scale or intensity of an existing business (e.g., increasing the number of chairs or expanding into the next unit);
  • carrying out building work (e.g., fit-out of the salon); and
  • carrying out plumbing or drainage work.

To find out if you need to submit a development application for a Personal Appearance Service business, you can:

Building Approval

Building approval may be required for work that could include:

  • fitting out a new salon
  • installing a new procedure room
  • refurbishing an existing salon.

All building work is assessed against the building assessment provisions (including, but not limited to, the National Construction Code and the Queensland Development Code) which set the minimum requirements for building structure, fire safety, access and egress, health and amenity, and energy efficiency.

To find out if you need building approval, you can:

Plumbing Approval

Personal appearance services may need plumbing and drainage approval for the following activities:

  • installation of sinks (portable sinks are not accepted, all sinks must be connected to fixed pipework);
  • release of trade waste to sewer;
  • installation and maintenance of backflow prevention devices; or
  • use of non-reticulated water supply (tank water)

Plumbing and drainage work should be conducted by a licensed plumber. Contact Council or Urban Utilities for more information.

Stage Two: Assessment and Building Fit-out

Once you have satisfied any development, building and plumbing approvals, you must seek design approval and commence building fit-out.

Step 1 – Design assessment

  • Plans will need to be drawn up and submitted with your assessment.  Please see this link for guidance on requirements for fit-out Fit Out Guidelines. Note that the infection control guidelines have additional fit-out requirements.
  • Complete the Plan assessment/design requirements sections of the Personal Appearance Services Licence Application.
  • Ensure you include two A3 size copies of the design plan with your assessment application.
  • An application fee applies. For details view Council’s Fees and Charges Schedule and search ‘Higher Risk Personal Appearance Service’.
  • Submit your application:
    • Email: plandev@ipswich.qld.gov.au (pdf format of form and plan/s only)
    • Post: PO Box 191, Ipswich Qld 4305
    • In person: Ground Floor, 1 Nicholas Street, Ipswich

Step 2 – Building fit-out

  • Fit-out your premises in accordance with the approval given by Council.
  • Please read both the approved plans and approval conditions carefully when you receive them and carry out your fit-out including any changes that may be required.  A final inspection will be conducted to ensure the premises has been constructed in accordance with the design approval.  The premises must pass this inspection for the HRPAS Licence to be issued.  If additional inspections are required, then further inspection fees apply.  For details view Council’s Fees and Charges Schedule and search ‘Higher Risk Personal Appearance Service’.
  • About ten (10) days prior to completing the fit-out of the premises, start your application for a Personal Appearances Services Licence.

Stage Three: Applying for a Licence

  •  
  • Complete the New Licence sections of the Personal Appearance Services Licence Application Form;
  • To issue a Higher-Risk Personal Appearance Services (HRPAS) Licence, you must nominate a person with suitable qualifications on the application.  A certified copy (signed by a Justice of the Peace) of the relevant Statement of Attainment must accompany the completed licence application;
  • An application fee applies. For details view Council’s Fees and Charges Schedule and search ‘Higher Risk Personal Appearance Service’
  • Submit your application:
    • Email: plandev@ipswich.qld.gov.au (pdf format of form and qualifications only)
    • Post: PO Box 191, Ipswich Qld 4305
    • In person: Ground Floor, 1 Nicholas Street, Ipswich

How is my design approval and licence application managed?

Council will assess and respond to your assessment and application within forty (40) business days from the date of submission.  If you require development approval, this assessment will not commence until you have notified Council of the development approval.

  • After submitting stage three documents, you may contact the assessing officer to organise the final inspection or alternatively the officer will contact you.
  • The final inspection will assess that the fit-out against the design approval issued in stage one in addition to operational requirements are satisfactory and the licence will be issued if all requirements are met.
  • Any outstanding matters will delay the licence being issued and may require a reinspection for which current fees will apply.  If the inspection is passed, then the licence will be issued.

Once your application has been assessed and approved, you will be issued a licence.  It will be emailed or mailed to you, and you must display the licence, or a copy of the licence, at each related business so that it is easily visible to a person as they enter the premises.

Licence renewal, amendment, replacement or transfer

Licence renewal

  • Licences must be renewed each financial year.  Council will send out a renewal notice approximately four (4) weeks prior to renewal each year.  A new licence will be mailed to you, and you will need to ensure this is displayed.

Amendment to current licence

Replacement licence

  • If you require a copy of your licence, please contact the Customer Contact Centre on (07) 3810 6666.

Transfer of Licence