Special treatments licence
Who needs to apply
Premises offering special treatments must have a licence.
If you're providing any of the following treatments below to customers, then you must apply for a licence:
- sauna
- heated spa baths
- floatation tank
- laser treatments
- acupuncture
- spray tanning
- body piercing, such as ears, nose
- ultraviolet tanning equipment including sunbeds
- tattooing - semi-permanent make-up and micro-pigmentation
- electrolysis
- massage
- artificial nails, manicures and pedicures
- moles
- light and vapour treatments
If in doubt, check the A-Z treatment list (PDF, 500kb).
Legislation summary
View the London Local Authorities Act 1991.
Licence conditions
All premises offering special treatments must comply with the special treatments licence conditions.
Exemptions
You do not need a licence if special treatments are provided in the following circumstances:
- there is no gain or reward – all treatments are provided free of any sort of charge or donation
- treatments are not provided at premises – for example, mobile services provided from a vehicle or in clients’ own homes
- treatments are provided by or under the supervision of medical practitioners, dentists, and professionals supplementary to medicine in a hospital or nursing home
- treatments are provided by a person who is a member at the appropriate level of a body of health practitioners approved for exemption by this council
Members of some professional associations and organisations are exempt from special treatment licensing. Find out which businesses in Southwark are exempt from licensing.
Page last updated: 22 April 2024
