Health & safety regulations

This term applies to any business that uses needles that puncture the skin. It includes tattoo parlours, acupuncture, beauty treatments and piercing.

Operators of these businesses must notify Council of their names, the address of any premises where procedures involving skin penetration take place, and exactly what procedures are carried out.

• Skin Penetration Business Registration Form(PDF, 249KB)

NSW Health has a page dedicated to the Skin penetration industry that includes relevant factsheets based on the Public Health (Skin Penetration) Regulation 2000.

Are you thinking of purchasing or opening a beauty salon or tattoo shop?

Or are you thinking of offering services that involve skin penetration or piercing such as ear piercing, acupuncture, or blood cholesterol and glucose measurement? 

There are some important things you need to know:

• If it’s a new business or if you are planning a re-fit, you need to submit a development application, even for a home business.

• Your premises must be inspected by one of our environmental health officers before you can open.

• If you are purchasing an existing approved business, you need to notify us of the change of ownership.

• You need to know about hygiene standards and infection control practices to keep both workers and clients safe from infection. For example, even simple treatments can cause serious infections such as HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C.

See NSW Health’s Fact Sheets for:

• Tattooing and other body art - hygiene standards

• Control of skin penetration procedures

• Skin penetration industry

• Beauty treatment - hygiene standards

Skin penetration legislation and codes of best practice include:

• NSW Public Health Act 2010

• NSW Public Health Regulation 2012

Do you have a concern or complaint about a beauty salon, tattoo shop or chemist?

• Use our online form to report an issue

All hairdressing salons and barber shops must be registered with their local council. Council's Environmental Health Officers are also empowered to carry out inspections on these businesses.

• Hair Business Registration Form(PDF, 249KB)

Hygiene standards need to be maintained and premises need to be suitably equipped. For full information on the relevant guidelines, you should visit the NSW Health website on hairdressing and barbers hygiene standards. The aims of Public Health Act 2010 and Public Health Regulation 2012 are to minimise the risk of diseases being transmitted and to promote safe work environments.

Are you thinking of purchasing or opening a hairdressing salon or barber shop?

There are some important things you need to know.

• If it’s a new business or if you are planning a re-fit, you need to submit a development application, even for a home business.

• Your premises must be inspected by one of our environmental health officers before you can open.

• If you are purchasing an existing approved business, you need to notify us of the change of ownership.

• You need to know about hygiene standards and infection control practices to keep both workers and clients safe from infection. See NSW Health’s Fact Sheet for Hairdressing and barbers - hygiene standards. 

• You need make sure you comply with the Local Government (General) Regulation 2005

Contact us for more information on starting your business.

Do you have a concern or complaint about a hairdresser or barber?

• Use our online form to report an issue 

Public pools and spas can represent a major public health risk if not constructed, maintained or managed correctly. It's important to have access to current and reliable information. Both drowning and microbial infections are of major concern.

If you have a pool or spa which is available for public use, or is used by staff, either free of charge or by payment, then it is subject to legislation. Visit the NSW Health website for further detailed information and a clear definition of what constitutes a "public" pool and spa.

If you have installed a new public pool/spa pool, are taking over an established premises with a public pool/spa pool or if previously notified particulars have changed you will need to complete the following form:

• Notification for registration of public swimming pools and spa pools(PDF, 146KB)

We inspect commercial or public swimming pools annually. This helps pool and spa operators ensure their pool water quality is maintained to a high standard.

If you'd like more information about water quality and the requirements for operating a commercial pool or spa, visit the NSW Health Department's website.

Businesses who operate pools and spas are required to provide us with contact details so we can arrange your annual inspection. 

These businesses may include:

• Motels
• Caravan parks
• Resorts
• Aquatic centres
• Learn-to-swim centres

If you operate a business that uses rainwater for food preparation or as drinking water that can be consumed by the public, you need to ensure that maintenance and testing requirements are met.

The storage and collection of rainwater must be through a well maintained tank and roof catchment system.

An unusual taste or smell may indicate the water is not suitable for drinking. The main causes of rainwater pollution include:

• Dead animals or animal droppings;
• Sediment, slime or algae in tank or pipes;
• Decaying vegetation in guttering;
• Pollen or dangerous plant material;
• Smoke, ash or traffic emissions;
• Pesticides;
• Roof material - including asbestos, lead, treated timber and paint.

For further information regarding the use of rainwater tanks see:

• Fact sheet - Rainwater tanks(PDF, 70KB)
• NSW Health website
  

From 1 September 2019 most underground petroleum storage system (UPSS) sites in the MidCoast area became the regulatory responsibility of Council.

The NSW Environment Protection Authority remains the regulatory authority for sites that are:

• operated by public authorities

• in the unincorporated areas of NSW

• subject to an environment protection licence

• were subject to a notice issued by the EPA before 1 September 2019 for a matter under the UPSS Regulation until the actions in that notice have been complied with.

To assist operators of UPSS sites comply with requirements in NSW, fact sheets and Industry Guidance is available on the NSW Environment Protection Authority’s website.

Leak Notification

In accordance with part 5.7 of the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997, the person responsible* for the UPSS site must, immediately after becoming aware of a pollution incident, notify the relevant authority.  Where notification was verbal, and Council is the relevant authority, a written notification using the UPSS Regulation Leak Notification Form must be submitted within seven days.

A copy of Council’s UPSS Regulation Leak Notification Form is available below:

• Leak Notification Form

* the person responsible is the person who has management and control of the system.  If the ‘person’ responsible is a corporation, an individual who is authorised to act on the organisations behalf must be nominated.