Open a health and beauty business 

​Before opening a new health and beauty business, call us on 09 301 0101 and ask to speak with a planning officer.

We can tell you if it is appropriate for you to operate your business at the address.

We will also tell you about operating requirements in the area, including parking and lighting.

In some cases, you may need a resource consent.

You may also need a building consent if you are building a new premises or altering an existing building.

Call us on 09 301 0101 and ask to speak with someone from the building consent team.

Health and beauty businesses must follow certain codes of practice. It is important you read and understand the relevant code of practice before you apply.

General codes of practice

• Operator code of practice
• Permanent business
• Mobile or temporary business (if applicable)

Health and beauty codes of practice

• Acupuncture / Cupping / Moxibustion
• Electrolysis
• Derma rolling / Stamping
• Tattooing
• Body piercing
• Laser treatment / pulsed light
• Extractions
• Red vein treatment
• Traditional tool tattooing
• Exfoliation
• Manicure and pedicure
• Sun-bed
• Hair removal

Fees are non-refundable and are not pro-rated.

These licences cannot be transferred. If you buy an existing business, you must apply for a new licence.

Fees for low risk service

Low risk services are:

• exfoliation
• manicure and pedicure
• sun-beds
• hair removal.

Fees for high risk services

High risk services are:

• Acupuncture / Cupping / Moxibustion
• Electrolysis
• Laser treatment/pulsed light
• Derma rolling / Stamping
• Tattooing
• Body piercing
• Extractions
• Red vein treatment
• Traditional tool tattooing.

As the owner of the business, it is your responsibility to get all other necessary consents, permits and licences.

This includes those under:

• the Building Act 2004
• Resource Management Act 1991
• any other relevant Auckland Council bylaws.

A licence does not mean you have building or resource consent approval.

If you need a building consent, it is your responsibility to make sure you have a Code Compliance Certificate or a Certificate of Public Use before you start trading.

What happens next

When we have received your application and payment, we will:

• review your application within 10 working days
• contact you to schedule an opening inspection, depending on availability. This is usually within 10 working days of the review.

The full process can take up to 20 working days. This can take longer if you have given incorrect or incomplete information. To avoid delays, make sure:

• you understand your legal requirements
• your application is correct and includes all the information we need
• you have made your payment correctly.

We will contact you if we need more information.

If everything meets the requirements, we will email your licence to you.

If we find issues during the inspections, you must fix them before we can give you your licence.

After you receive your licence

• You must print and display your licence publicly in your business.
• We will inspect your business each year to check that you are meeting your requirements.

You must renew on time. We will send you a renewal application form before your expiry date.

You must apply for renewal within 14 days of the expiry date to be able to continue to operate your business.

Fees are non-refundable and are not pro-rated.

These licences cannot be transferred.