Health premises regulations

Beauty Therapy.jpg

Overview

Before you start a new hair, beauty or skin penetration business (health premises), or buy an existing health premises, you should be aware of the various requirements that apply under Environmental Health, Planning and Building legislation.

Registering a new health premises or buying an existing health premises

A proprietor of a health premises must register the business with Murrindindi Shire Council under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008. Registration is valid from January to December, with renewals due by 31 December each year. A hairdressing business, however, has an ongoing registration under the Act (no renewal necessary).

Whether you are purchasing an existing, or establishing a new health premises, there are a number of steps to take.

Which health premises require registration?

If you provide the following services in your business, you are required to be registered with Murrindindi Shire Council under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008.

  • hairdressing and barbering
  • facials
  • cosmetic application (including spray tanning)
  • eyelash extensions and tinting
  • hair removal
  • laser and intense pulsed light
  • manicure, pedicure and nail treatments
  • tattooing (including cosmetic tattooing)
  • body piercing and other forms of body modification
  • dry needling
  • colonic irrigation.

The majority of these services are usually performed in the following types of establishments:

  • hairdressers and barbers
  • beauty therapists
  • tattoo parlours
  • pharmacies
  • myotherapy 

 

I'm starting a new business

Before you commence development of your new health premises, you should discuss your proposal with Council's Environmental Health Officer. Before you can begin operating the business you must be granted registration by Council. To do this you must first:

  • apply for registration with Council's Environmental Health Unit
  • meet all the requirements of the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008
  • depending on the proposed occupation of your home or commercial premises for the business operations, or if you plan to undertake building works, you may also need a planning and building permit

Visit Planning and Building for further information or if you require further information on your obligations under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act, please contact Council's Environmental Health Officer on (03) 5772 0333.

 

I'm buying an existing health premises

Before purchasing a an existing health premises, it is recommended that you arrange a pre-purchase inspection to determine if there are any outstanding compliance issues under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 (the Act).

The Act registration for the premises must be transferred from the name of the current proprietor to your name before you take over its operation.

You can book an inspection of the premises by completing the application form below and submitting it to Council's Environmental Health Unit.

Apply for a premise inspection

Please call (03) 5772 0333 to speak to an Environmental Health Officer for further information.

Approval of plans

Murrindindi Shire Council offers a pre-registration review of your health premises plans. You should first submit your plans for approval, in conjunction with your Planning and Building application (if applicable), before starting construction works.

Please contact Council's Environmental Health Unit on (03) 5772 0333 for further information.

Registering a new health premises

All health premises that require registration must be registered under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 and operated in accordance with the Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2019.
 
To register your health premises you will need to:
  • ensure the premises meets the required standards
  • have an accurate detailed floor plan to submit with your registration application, showing:
    • the layout of the premises showing all treatment areas/rooms, equipment, furniture, location of staff amenities, storage areas (including linen, cleaning chemicals and equipment), location of hand basins and equipment washing sinks
    • proposed use of each treatment room (if applicable)
    • the dimensions of each treatment area/room in metres
    • complete the online form and pay the scheduled fee

On receipt of your application, an Environmental Health Officer will contact you to arrange an inspection of the premises to ensure it meets all relevant regulations. Council will provide a written assessment report of the inspection.

Trade cannot commence until the registration process is complete and a Certificate of Registration is issued.

Registrations need to be renewed annually. A registration renewal invitation will be sent out in November for the next calendar year.

Note: Hairdressers are not renewed annually - registration is ongoing, however must be transferred to the new proprietor if the ownership changes hands.

Note: Some hairdressing salon proprietors who wish to rent out a treatment room to a beauty therapy operator should seek advice from Council's Environmental Health Unit as registration of that entity will be required.

Registration commences on the day the business operation is approved and expires on 31 December each year. Registration fees are set each year by Council. 

Apply to register a health premises

Application fees:
  • hairdresser & beauty therapy: $234.30
  • skin penetration: $234.30
  • transfer of registration: $159.60
  • hairdresser (when there is a change of business ownership): $234.30

Download and read the Current Fee Schedule(PDF, 186KB) for more information on costs. 

Transferring an existing health premises

Health premises registration can be transferred between parties (with exception to a hairdresser) upon application.

On receipt of this application, an Environmental Health Officer will contact you to arrange a suitable time to inspect the premises to ensure it meets all relevant regulations.

Once Council is satisfied that the health premises is compliant with the regulations, Council will grant a Certificate of Registration.

Application fees: $159.60

Apply to transfer a health premises

Operating your health premises

The Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2019 outlines the specific requirements that a health premises must meet including infection prevention and control, ensuring a high standard of hygiene, sanitation and maintenance.

The Infection prevention and control guidelines for hair, beauty, tattooing and skin penetration industries (2019) helps those involved in these industries to comply with requirements in the Public Health and Welling Act 2008 and the Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2019:

These guidelines do not replace industry-specific guidelines or codes of practice, which must also comply with the Act and Regulations. You should talk to the industry association relevant to your business. 

The Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2009 requires the following conditions to be met by all proprietors:

  • the premise must be kept clean
  • any article used for penetrating the skin must be sterile at the time of use
  • any article that has penetrated the skin or is contaminated with blood or body fluids/substances must be either disposed of immediately after use or cleaned and sterilised before being used on another person
  • any other used article must be cleaned before being used on another person
  • operators must keep themselves and their clothing clean, and have no exposed cuts, abrasions or wounds
  • proprietors must provide written health information to each client about the health risks associated with skin penetration procedures

 

Back to top