Personal service establishments are facilities in which a person provides a service to, or on the body of another person including tattoo parlours, piercing facilities, tanning salons, floatation tanks, hair and nail salons, among others.
Environmental Health Officers (EHO) will inspect facilities offering invasive services that penetrate the skin due to higher risk of infection and disease transmission associated with these services. This includes services such as tattooing, piercing, permanent make-up and microblading. Some non-invasive services such as floatation tanks, cold plunge tubs and tanning facilities may also be inspected.
Find Personal Service Establishment Inspection Reports.
To operate a personal service establishment, as noted above, submit an application package to the local Environmental Public Health Office. The application package must include:
An Application for a Personal Service Facility form should be submitted for each personal service facility. A copy of legal ownership documentation is required if the ownership type is a corporation, society or partnership.
Ownership types include sole proprietor, society, corporation or partnership.
A copy of floor plans and equipment specifications must be submitted for review and approval by the Environmental Health Officer prior to construction. Floor plans should be drawn to scale and clearly labelled.
The Infection Control Plan are written procedures for cleaning, disinfecting, and sterilizing, as well as procedures for blood and body fluid exposure
Note: Personal service facilities are required to connect to a water supply system that complies with the Drinking Water Protection Act and Drinking Water Protection Regulation and wastewater disposal system that complies with the Sewerage System Regulation or other governing agencies. Where a premises is not connected to a community water supply system or sewer system, contact your local Environmental Public Health Office or visit our Drinking Water and Sewage Disposal pages for more information.
When the application package has been reviewed and approved, the Environmental Health Officer will conduct a pre-opening inspection to ensure the facility is constructed in accordance with the approved plans and in compliance the Regulated Activities Regulation and the provincial Guidelines for Personal Service Establishments. Once satisfied that all requirements are met, the Environmental Health Officer will grant approval to operate. Health approval must be granted prior to opening.
Temporary events are public gatherings that are held on a temporary basis including tattoo conventions. Operators wishing to host an event or participate as a vendor offering personal services should be familiar with the provincial Guidelines for Personal Services Offered at Tradeshows.
The World Health Organization classifies ultraviolet (UV) tanning beds as a “group one carcinogen.” This means they are known to cause cancer in humans.
Find out more about the risks of indoor tanning.
The provincial Regulated Activities Regulation prohibits a person under the age of 18 (minors) from using tanning equipment at a personal service establishment. This is designed to reduce the chances of developing skin cancer later in life. Operators must not allow minors to use tanning facilities, unless the minor has a medical prescription for treating a skin condition.
Tanning bed facilities must display a government-approved sign in a clearly visible location, advising staff and customers about the under-18 tanning ban.
The CRD has developed the local Tanning Facility Regulation bylaw (Bylaw #3711) which:
Operators of tanning facilities in the Capital Regional District should review this bylaw and the Guide to the Contents of the CRD Tanning Bylaw 3711.
Guidelines for Personal Service Establishments
Ministry of Health Personal Service Establishments
Guidelines for Body Modification
Guidelines for Personal Service Establishments at Trade Shows
Guidelines for Floatation Tank Facilities
Guidelines for Laser Hair Removal
Guidelines for Microblading
Best Practice Guidelines for Cleaning, Disinfection and Sterilization of Critical and Semi-critical Medical Devices
Guidelines for Tanning Salon Owners, Operators and Adult Users
Healthlink BC Body Piercing
Healthlink BC Tattoo
Blood and Body Fluid Precautions
