Register a hairdressing, beauty therapy or body art business

Every hairdressing, beauty therapy and body art business operating in the Northern Territory (NT) are required to be registered.

You can apply online to start a new registration, or to renew or cancel your existing registration.

Who must register

You must register if your business receives a payment or reward in return for services, including:

• hairdressing - cutting, colouring, treating and shaving
• beauty therapy - face or body treatment, manicure or pedicure, artificial nails, semi-permanent make-up and cosmetic tattooing
• body art - tattooing, ear piercing, body piercing and body modification.

If your business only provides the following services, you do not need to register:

• application of non-permanent make-up
• spray tanning
• procedures performed by a health practitioner registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2010.

When to register

You must register if you have started a new or recently acquired a hairdressing, beauty or body art business.

Registration for beauty and body art businesses are valid for one year, you must then:

• renew at least 30 days before the expiry
• start a new application if registration has lapsed.

For hairdressing businesses, renewals are not required but if your business moves location you will need to start a new application.

All businesses must cancel their registration within 14 days of selling or closing.

What you need

To start a new registration application, you will need:

• to verify your identity as part of the online registration or in person with an environmental health officer - get their contact details on the NT Health website
• business details including ACN or ABN
• contact information for the business proprietors
• floor or building plans that show:
  • treatment or procedure rooms
  • work areas in each treatment or procedure room
  • hand wash basins.

If you are renewing your registration, you will only need to include floor or building plans if substantial changes have been made to the business.

Fees

It is $91 to register or renew a business that undertakes hairdressing only.

It is $141 to register or renew a:

• beauty therapy business
• hairdressing and beauty therapy
• body art business
• hairdressing and body art business
• beauty therapy and body art business
• hairdressing, beauty therapy and body art business.

If applying online, there is an option to pay after completing the form using a credit or debit card.

You can also make payment over the phone to, in person at or by mail using a cheque or money order to the Receiver of Territory Monies. You must provide the premises trading name to make sure details on your payment match your application.

Regulations

There are health guidelines and regulations for operators of hairdressing, beauty therapy and body art businesses.

The guidelines aim to minimise the risk of infectious disease transmissions, injury and other health-related complaints.

For more information read the:

• public and environmental health guidelines for hairdressing, beauty therapy and body art on the NT Health ePublications website
• Public and Environmental Health Regulations 2014

Contact

For more information, contact Environmental Health. Get their contact details on the NT Health website.