Personal Services

Establishments where operators provide a service to, or on, the body of another person, such as tattooing, piercing, esthetic services, tanning beds or saunas, are regulated as a Personal Service Establishment (PSE).

Our Environmental Health Officers conduct inspections at PSEs and work with facility operators to guide approval processes, prevent health hazards and reduce the risk of transmitting communicable diseases.

The B.C. Ministry of Health has developed Guidelines for Personal Service Establishments to help PSE operators prevent health hazards that could harm or transmit infection to their clients or themselves.

To apply for approval, follow the steps below:

Step 1: Review the Health Approval for PSEs guide to help you determine what information you need to provide with your PSE Application Form.

Step 2: Submit completed forms and documents to our Centralized Intake.

Be sure to submit the following items with the personal service establishment application form. We prefer if you attach all documents as a PDF (not screen shots) to one email and submit the following:

• Floor plan for the PSE
• List of services provided, and instruments/equipment used
• Infection control plan
• Operator’s training and certification (recommended)

Missing information could result in a delay processing your application.

Step 3: Your application package will be reviewed by an Environmental Health Officer. Once approved, they may contact you for an inspection to ensure your facility has been constructed and can operate in accordance with the Guidelines and the approved plans. Once the Environmental Health Officer is satisfied all conditions have been met, they will issue approval for your business to operate.

If you have any questions about the application process, please contact an Environmental Health Officer.

Temporary Personal Service Establishments (PSEs) are set up at public events such as tradeshows, community fairs or other similar events. They are only set up for the duration of the event and are taken down once the event ends.

Temporary PSEs require health approval to operate prior to setup.

If you operate an approved PSE, you are still required to apply for approval to operate a Temporary PSE for any regulated activities occurring off-site.

If you are an event coordinator in charge of organizing an event:

• Review the Temporary Event Coordinator’s Planning Guide.
• Contact an Environmental Health Officer well in advance to discuss any specific requirements for your event, such as water supply and wastewater management.
• Complete and submit the Temporary Event Coordinator Application to our Centralized Intake, at least 14 days in advance of the event. Events with greater than 25 attendees must submit applications at least 30 days before the event.

Learn more about planning major events:

Major Event Planning 

Major Planned Events - Province of British Columbia

If you intend to operate a temporary personal service establishment, follow the steps below:

Step 1: Review the Guideline for Personal Services Offered at Tradeshows and Guideline for Personal Service Establishments.

Step 2:  Submit Appendix B and C from Guideline for Personal Services Offered at Tradeshows to our Centralized Intake at least 14 days in advance of the event. Events with greater than 25 attendees must submit applications at least 30 days before the event.

Step 3: Your application will be reviewed by an Environmental Health Officer, and you may be contacted if more information is required. If approved, a letter granting approval to operate your temporary PSE will be issued.

Step 4: Provide a copy of the letter to the Event Coordinator, if applicable, and display the letter at your temporary PSE.

Note: For events with personal services where the Event Coordinator assumes greater responsibility for vendor setups and infection control, applications may be submitted — grouped by service type — on behalf of their vendors.

If you have any questions about the application process, please contact an Environmental Health Officer.

Application and Approval Process

• IH Health Approval for PSE
• IH PSE Application Form – fillable
• PSE at Tradeshows Appendix B & C

Guidelines

• Best Practice Guidelines for Cleaning, Disinfection and Sterilization of Critical and Semi-critical Medical Devices
• Guideline for Personal Service Establishments
• Guidelines for Personal Services offered at Tradeshows
• Ministry of Health Personal Service Establishments
  • Guideline for Body Modification
  • Guideline for Floatation Tanks
  • Guidelines for Laser Hair Removal
  • Information for Tanning Salon Operators (Indoor Tanning)
  • Microblading Fact Sheet
  • Tattoo and Piercing Safety