Registering a health business
Under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008, some health-related businesses require registration with Council.
These include:
- hairdressers
- beauty salons
- tattooists
- skin penetration, and
- prescribed accommodation including houses, motels and caravan parks where temporary or shared accommodation is provided.
- assessing the plans of new health businesses
- inspecting these businesses, and
- investigating complaints.
New health business registration
Any new health business must register with Council and maintain registration while operating. Under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008, these businesses must register with Council and pay an annual registration fee. Operating without registration is an offence.
Council has a fixed registration period that runs from 1 July to 30 June the subsequent year. There is an annual fee for registration, which is set by Council.
- Before you register, you can submit plans to Council. Council checks that the fittings and layout of your business meet the required standards. There is a cost to have plans assessed. Premises must comply with the Victorian Government Health Guidelines for personal care and body art industries.
- Contact Council for a health business registration form.
Renew your registration
- Council sends you a notice to renew your Health Act registration in the post.
- To renew your registration, simply pay the registration fee. You can pay the renewal fee online or you can pay in person, by phone or by post.
Run a health business from home
Some health businesses operate can from residential premises. This is allowed as long as you follow Council’s planning guidelines for running a home business. You might need a planning permit to run a business from home.
Buy a health business
Before you buy an existing health business Council suggests that you seek and obtain a Health Act Transfer Inspection Report.
The Health Act Transfer Inspection Report will detail all non-compliances.
There is a fee associated with this service and you will need the current proprietor to sign a form to release the information.
Transfer of registration
A business can transfer its registration before the registration expires. There is a fee to transfer registration. The fee is 50 per cent of the annual registration fee.
