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.

Part 2Apply for a special treatments licence

Page last updated: 22 April 2024

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Special treatments licence

Who needs to apply

Legislation summary

Licence conditions

Exemptions

Cookies policy

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