A health or beauty business includes activities such as hairdressing beauty therapy (that is: waxing threading manicuring laser Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) spray tanning eyelash extensions etc) body piercing colonic irrigation or tattooing.
Massage businesses are not required to be registered unless skin penetration is included in the activities.
A health or beauty business can be separated into high and low risk activities.
Low risk activities include hairdressing temporary make-up application eyelash/eyebrow extensions or tinting and spray tanning.
High risk activities include beauty therapy such as waxing threading manicuring laser Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) body piercing colonic irrigation or tattooing.
Registration under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act and compliance with the relevant guidelines is arranged through our Health Services Unit.
What you need to do
For health and beauty businesses you should make yourself familiar with our start a new health and wellbeing business page.
For accommodation businesses you should be aware of the requirements under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act. There are additional minimum standards which must be met for rooming houses.
Our Town Planning Department will need to be contacted prior to any works occurring at your Business.
Building fit outs may require a building permit. The simple installation of cabinets floor or wall linings or combinations may need a permit. It is best to contact our Building Department for determination and to complete a permit application if necessary.
When you are ready you should submit the application to register form with a copy of the plans.
What we will do
When the form is received an Environmental Health Officer will assess your application.
We may contact you if any matter needs to be clarified and we may arrange an inspection.
We can liaise with you during any construction stage.
The Environmental Health Officer will complete an inspection prior to your business opening. Your premise can only open once you have completed met all the requirements and received the approval of the Health Officer.
Things you should know...
If you wish to sell liquor at your premises you are required to apply for and obtain a Liquor Licence. To apply for Liquor Licencing you need to contact Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission on 1300 182 457.
You will also need to talk with our Town Planning Department regarding the proposal to sell liquor. Also as liquor is classified as food you will need to discuss this with your Environmental Health Officer for compliance under the Food Act 1984.
Other health registrations
If you wish to register a tattooing business you will need to discuss this with our Health Services Unit.
We also register some accommodation businesses under the same Act.
Several types of businesses providing accommodation services need to be registered under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act to ensure basic hygiene standards are met.
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The Health guidelines for personal care and body art industries are produced and maintained by the Department of Health. They include: Beauty Therapy Procedures Hairdressing Colonic Irrigation Body Art Tattooing and Piercing You can obtain a copy or download parts of it on the Department of Health website.
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You can safely identify and treat head lice by following simple steps on the Department of Health website. Under the Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations there are no restrictions preventing a person with head lice or eggs from using or attending a salon.
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If you are a registered beauty business and looking to rent out some space either an area or a chair in your shop the person renting the space would require registration under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act. If you are registered at your home you are able to do this as long as there are no more than 2 people working there that don’t live in the house. Again the hairdresser/beauty therapist would require registration with us under the Act. If you are making any structural changes you should also contact our Building Department.
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When you lodge a new Food or Public Health and Wellbeing Act application we will be in contact with you by email or phone within 10 working days of receiving your application. An application for a food or health registration can take between 4 and 6 weeks before approval to trade is given. This does not include any building or planning permit requirements which is a separate application process with the relevant departments. Missing or incorrect information and not being able to contact the applicant are common problems the assessing officer may have and this delays the approval of your business.