Skin piercing and tattooing

The Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (Licensing of Skin Piercing and Tattooing) Order 2006 legislation came into force on 1 April 2006, which requires all skin piercing activities to be licensed.

Skin piercing activities includes any of the following:

• Acupuncture
• Cosmetic body piercing
• Electrolysis
• Tattooing

Businesses will require to be licensed before carrying out skin piercing and/or tattooing.

How to apply

The application must be lodged with Trading Standards & Environmental Health.

Please complete the online form below. A payment section is provided at the end of the form. A link to the Environmental Health Fees and Charges is also provided below.

Applications will not be processed until Environmental Health are in receipt of the fee.

Once the application is processed the fees are non-refundable.

Skin Piercing and Tattooing Personal Licence Application Form

Skin Piercing and Tattooing Premises Licence Application Form

Fees and charges - South Ayrshire Council (south-ayrshire.gov.uk)

If no application is received for relevant skin piercing activities, enforcement action may be taken.

If the activities carried out on your premises come into the above criteria, you will require to meet certain conditions as indicated by the above legislation.

For further information Contact Environmental Health - South Ayrshire Council

Standards for skin piercing and tattooing

View the Standards for skin piercing and tattooing

Licensed establishments

View a list of licensed establishments for skin piercing and tattooing