Skin Penetration Businesses

Tattooing

If your business is performing skin penetration (high risk) procedures, you are required to comply with public health laws.

Campbelltown City Council is responsible for making sure that you are registered and operate in a hygienic manner.

Our responsibility excludes skin penetration procedures carried out by:

  • Health practitioner registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (NSW) No 86a, or by a person acting under the direction or supervision of a registered health practitioner, in the course of providing a health service: Registered Medical Practioners, Dentistry's, Chiropractors, Osteopaths, Dental technicians, Nurses, Optical dispensers, Optometrists, Pharmacies, Podiatrists and Psychologists.
  • Any procedure declared by the regulations not to be a skin penetration procedure.

What is a skin penetration (high risk) procedure?

Skin penetration is defined under the Public Health Act 2010 as any procedure (whether medical or not) that penetrations the skin (such as acupuncture, tattooing, ear piercing or hair removal or the penetration of a mucous membrane) and includes any procedure declared by the Public Health Regulation 2022 as being a skin penetration procedure.

Skin penetration procedures includes:

  • Tattooing
  • Body, nose and ear piercing
  • Dry needling, skin needling
  • Acupuncture
  • Cuticle cutting
  • Beauty treatments, i.e. waxing, electrolysis
  • Wet cupping
  • Colonic irrigation, colonic lavage
  • Cosmetic enhancement
  • Nail artistry and pedicures
  • Microdermabrasion and hydrodermabasion
  • Scarification
  • Microblading
  • Derma-roller, sub dermal implants
  • Feathering
  • Semi-permanent makeup
  • And any beauty treatment or procedure which involves the deliberate penetration or removal of the skin or prescribed by the regulation

Registration of your skin penetration business

All skin penetration businesses - including home-based businesses practicing skin penetration (this includes waxing) requires a development application (DA) to be lodged and approved by Council prior to operating.

Inspections

There are a diverse range of skin penetration premises operating in the Campbelltown Local Government Area (LGA).

These businesses are required to be registered with us and are subject to regular inspections to ensure they comply with infection control requirements and basic health and hygiene.

Home-based hairdresser, beauty and skin penetration businesses

Hairdressers, beauty and skin penetration business from home still carries with it the same legal responsibilities and requirements as those that apply to commercial hairdressers, beauty and skin penetration premises.

To operate a hairdresser, beauty and skin penetration business from a residential premise a development application will need to be submitted to Council for prior approval.

Not all skin penetration practices are suitable to operate as a home business. As tattoo parlours are not permitted in residential areas they are unable to operate as an home-based business.

Find out more about Home-based hair, skin penetration and beauty businesses.

Acupuncturists

Acupuncturists are required to be licensed with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency prior to operations commencing.

Contact Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA):
Phone: 1300 419 495.

Useful links

These website may provide useful information including legislation and fact sheets:

Fact Sheets

For further information, videos and fact sheets on infection control procedures, please refer to the NSW Health Skin Penetration Industry page and these other Department fact sheets: