Consultation: Revised Massage and special treatment licence conditions
We have begun consultation on the revision of the licence conditions for Massage and Special Treatments Establishments.
Massage and Special Treatment Licences are required under Part IV of the Nottinghamshire County Council Act 1985.
Any person carrying on a business for the treatment of persons for massage or special treatments requires a licence to do so. Licensable treatments include:
- Full body and part massage
- Electric treatment
- Radiant heat, light or electric vapour treatment
- Sauna or other baths for therapeutic treatment
- UV tanning equipment including sunbeds and sun showers
- Laser and/or Intense Pulse Light (IPL) treatment using Class 3B and Class 4 Lasers
All Local Authorities in Nottinghamshire including Ashfield District Council have reviewed the conditions applied to Massage and Special Treatment Licences to ensure consistency across the County, and to ensure that the minimum standards of safety and hygiene for clients and practitioners are promoted through the conditions attached to these licences.
The revised licence conditions were approved for consultation by the Licensing Committee on 19 June 2024.
The consultation runs from 1 July 2024 until 18 August 2024.
The revised licence conditions can be accessed in the related documents section of this page.
Comments on the revised licence conditions
Comments should be made by email to:
or alternatively made in writing to:
- address:
The Environmental Health Manager
Ashfield District Council
Urban Road
Kirkby in Ashfield
Nottinghamshire
NG17 8DA
To give licence holders fair notice to meet the new standards, they will be introduced on 1 January 2025. Inspections carried out after 1 January 2025 will be to the new standards.
Amendments and additions to the Massage and Special Treatment Licence conditions
To assist all parties, the main proposed amendments and additions are briefly bulleted (and the relevant Page Number within the revised licence conditions that these can be found and the text highlighted in yellow in the document found within the Related Documents section of this web page below):
Part 1 – Conditions applicable to all Massage and Special Treatment Licences
These conditions apply to every establishment licenced under The Nottinghamshire County Council Act 1985.
- Verbal and written aftercare must be provided to all clients following the treatment – Condition 14, Page 3. Guidance on the acceptable forms for written aftercare advice is contained in the licence condition guidance document – page 2.
Part 2 – Conditions applicable to Establishments offering Sauna, Steam Rooms and/or Spa Pool Treatments
New conditions specified.
Part 3 – Conditions applicable to Establishments offering the use of UV Tanning Equipment
- The definition of ‘UV Tanning Equipment’ has changed – page 8
- Condition 7 is new – page 8
- Condition 9 is new – page 9
- Removed - Examples of maintenance records – Condition 10, page 9
- Added - A requirement that emergency stop mechanisms must be within easy reach of the user – Condition 11, page 9
- Removed - The requirement to ensure that clients use the facilities provided for the removal of cosmetics and body sprays – Condition 15, page 9
- Removed – Suitable and appropriate cleaning materials and chemicals (which should be properly labelled) must be available for the cleaning of UV Tanning equipment. Replaced with – Arrangements shall be made to ensure that the surface of the UV tanning equipment is cleaned and disinfected after each use in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions – Condition 16 , page 9
- Removed – The display of warning signs for approximately 80 hours of use after installation of the new tubes. Replaced with – Warning signs shall be displayed in accordance with timeframes specified by the tube manufacturer – Page 9
- Removed – The Licensee shall prepare a suitable and sufficient risk assessment for the use of UV tanning equipment which shall be produced to an authorised officer of the Local Authority on request
- Removed – It is the responsibility of the licensee to ensure compliance with all legislation in place at any particular time
- Removed – footnotes.
Part 4 – Conditions for the Use of Class 3B and Class 4 Lasers and Intense light Systems
- Removed – scope of the conditions.
- Alteration – Prescribed users must be listed on the Register of Authorised users in accordance with Section 4 -Condition 1.2, page 12
- Removed – The risk assessment must be signed, dated and include a date for next review/assessment – Page 13
- Removed – the ability of the local authority to change the frequency of safety audits and LPA on-site visits – Condition 3.5, page 13
- Removed – The need for the local rules to make reference to the treatment protocol – Page 13
- Alteration – Option to use a unique link to customer details kept elsewhere instead of recording the full name, date of birth and address of the person treated, in the register of laser use – Condition 5.1.1, page 14
- Removed – the Register must be kept in the Controlled Area to which it relates at all times – Page 14
- Alteration – Option to kept an electronic register of laser use if the electronic register does not allow overwriting to the original entry – Condition 5.2b, page 15
- Removed – Previous registers must be retained for a period of no less than 3 years of the date of the last entry – Page 15
- Removed – Where to obtain a sample Core of Knowledge syllabus – Page 15. This information can be found in the licence condition guidance document
- Added – reference to an access code – Condition 8.10, Page 16
- Removed – Compliance with relevant legislation – It is the responsibility of the licensee to ensure compliance with all legislation in place at any particular time which is relevant to the business, including (but not limited to) that relating to Environmental Health, Trading Standards, Licensing, Fire Safety and Insurance – Page 16
- Removed – Note: Evidence of training should include the training curriculum – Page 16.