Skin penetration and tattoo rules in NSW

The law and who enforces it

In NSW, skin penetration is covered by the Public Health Act 2010 and the Public Health Regulation 2022. NSW Health sets the standards, and local councils register and inspect premises. The Act's definition includes tattooing, body piercing, acupuncture, beauty treatments, cosmetic enhancements and colonic lavage.

Register with your council

• Premises where skin penetration procedures are done must be notified to the local council, using the NSW Health "Notification of Skin Penetration Procedure Premises" form.
• Mobile operators must notify their council too.
• Council officers can inspect premises, and NSW Health notes they can do so without notice.

What isn't covered

• Hairdressing and body decorating that don't deliberately pierce the skin.
• Laser hair removal, which isn't a skin penetration procedure under the Regulation.
• Procedures by registered health practitioners while providing a health service.

Tattooists need a separate licence

Body art tattooing has its own licensing scheme, run by the Security Licensing & Enforcement Directorate of the NSW Police Force and applied for through Service NSW:

• A tattooist licence to perform body art tattooing, including as an apprentice.
• A tattoo master licence to carry on a body art tattooing business. A master licence holder who tattoos at the same premises doesn't need a separate tattooist licence.

This is in addition to council notification and NSW Health's hygiene standards, not instead of them.

The hygiene rules in practice

• Anything that penetrates the skin is sterile at the time of use or single-use. NSW Health expects reusable items to be steam sterilised.
• Sharps go straight into a sharps container.
• Products are decanted so nothing is double-dipped.
• Clean linen for each client, and benches cleaned between clients.

Before you start

Call your council's environmental health team before you open or add a new service: they can tell you about notification, fit-out and inspections. NSW Health's fact sheets cover specific services such as waxing and foot spas. Follow your salon's or studio's procedures, and check the official pages linked below for current requirements.