Challenge 21 or 25
Train every member of staff to ask for ID and record refusals.
Guide for salon owners · September 2026
Sunbed salon regulations in the UK: licences, age limits and what is changing
What the law requires of a tanning salon in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, in plain English.
The short answer
There is no national sunbed licence in England, but every commercial sunbed business in the UK must refuse under-18s, and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland add rules on supervision, eyewear and customer information. Some councils, particularly in Scotland, require a local licence. Always check with your own council before opening.
The rules by nation
Sunbed law is devolved, so the requirements depend on where your salon is. This table is the headline position.
| Nation | Main law | Headline requirements |
|---|---|---|
| England | Sunbeds (Regulation) Act 2010 | No under-18s on a sunbed. Enforced by local authorities. No national licence. |
| Wales | 2010 Act plus the Sunbeds (Regulation) Act 2010 (Wales) Regulations 2011 | No under-18s, sessions must be supervised, protective eyewear and health information must be provided. |
| Scotland | Public Health etc. (Scotland) Act 2008 | No under-18s, no unsupervised use, information for customers. Some councils require a Public Entertainment Licence. |
| Northern Ireland | Sunbeds Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 | No under-18s, supervision, eyewear, customer information and staff training requirements. |
Official guidance: Business Companion on sunbeds and Welsh Government guidance for business.
Do you need a licence to open a sunbed shop?
In most of England and Wales, no specific licence is needed to run a tanning salon, although you must comply with the Sunbeds Act and general health and safety law, and your council's environmental health officers can inspect. Some local authorities run their own registration or special treatment licensing schemes that include UV tanning, so it is always worth a phone call.
In Scotland, several councils require a Public Entertainment Licence for sun tan centres, with conditions attached. In every nation you will also need to check planning use for the unit, business rates, and employer's and public liability insurance.
Equipment rules: the 0.3 W/m² limit
Commercial sunbeds supplied in the UK must not exceed an effective UV irradiance of 0.3 W/m², the limit set in the European sunbed safety standard. In practice that means fitting compliant lamps and keeping a record of what is fitted to each machine. Trading Standards and environmental health can and do test.
Any sunbed we supply, new or professionally reconditioned, is fitted with compliant tubes, and we can re-lamp existing equipment. See our guide to replacing sunbed tubes.
What is changing in England
The UK government has consulted on strengthening the regulation of commercial sunbeds in England. The proposals include banning unsupervised sessions and introducing mandatory ID checks so that businesses verify customers are over 18. If you are planning a new salon, design it to be staffed and build age verification into your customer sign-up from day one, so that you are ready whatever the final rules say.
You can read the consultation document on GOV.UK.
Good practice every salon should follow
Whatever your nation, these are the habits that keep customers safe and inspections short.
Skin type assessment
Assess new customers, set session lengths to suit, and keep client records.
Eyewear and information
Provide protective goggles and display health information clearly.
Maintenance log
Record lamp changes, hours and servicing for every sunbed. We can help set this up during staff training.
FAQ
Sunbed regulations: common questions
Do you need a licence to run a sunbed shop in England?
There is no national licence for sunbed premises in England. You must comply with the Sunbeds (Regulation) Act 2010 and health and safety law, and some councils run their own registration or licensing schemes, so check with yours.
What age do you have to be to use a sunbed in the UK?
18. It is illegal across the UK for a commercial sunbed business to allow anyone under 18 to use a sunbed. The business commits the offence, so staff training and ID checks matter.
Are unstaffed or coin-operated sunbed salons legal?
Not in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, where use must be supervised. England has not had the same requirement, but the government has proposed banning unsupervised sessions, so we would not advise building a new business around them.
What is the 0.3 rule for sunbeds?
Sunbeds must not emit more than 0.3 W/m² of effective UV irradiance. Compliance depends on the lamps fitted, so use compliant tubes and keep records of what is installed in each machine.
This guide is a summary for business owners, not legal advice. Rules change and local requirements differ, so confirm the current position with your local council's environmental health or licensing team before you commit to premises.
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What salon owners say
Real feedback from people who’ve bought beds, had installs and trained with Julita’s team.
“I had a pleasure to deal with j solution. Best in the business. Have few sunbeds bought and assembled by the company. Never had any issues with the equipment. They would also advise what’s new on the market. Thank you kindly”
“I’ve had a great experience working with J Solutions. They are extremely knowledgeable when it comes to sunbeds, lotions, and overall salon setup. From installation to training days, everything was handled professionally and efficiently. The team took the time to explain everything clearly, making sure I felt confident using the equipment and products. Highly recommend J Solutions to anyone looking for reliable support, quality products, and expert guidance within the tanning industry.”
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