Step 1

Determine if you require Planning or Building approval

Refer to the Development Application/Approval (Planning) page for more information. 

Refer to the Apply for Building Approval page for more information. 

Or contact the City's Planning and Building Departments on 9394 5000. 

Step 2

Approval of kitchen floor plans

Prior to the construction or alteration of the premises, complete the Application to Construct or Alter a Food Premises form. Consider the requirements of the Food Business Construction Guidelines before lodging an application. Approval must be granted prior to fit-out. Fees apply.

Note: this step is only for businesses constructing or modifying a premise.

Step 3

Requirement to register the food business with the City

As required under the Food Act 2008 the business must be registered with the local council where the business is based. Complete the Food Business Notification/Registration Form. Fees apply.

Note: once your form is submitted, the City may contact you requiring further information. 

Step 4

Required health inspection

Before the Food Business is registered under the Food Act 2008, your local Environmental Health Officer will need to conduct a health inspection at the proposed business location. 

If the above process is followed and the business is deemed to comply with the Food Act 2008 / Food Standards Code then a Food Business Registration Certificate will be issued. Relevant information sheets can be found below: 

• Information required with an application to construct or alter a food premises.

• Food premises guidelines.

• Food business from home .

For fees and charges details refer to the Schedule of Fees and Charges. 

There are restrictions on the types of foods that can be prepared in your home kitchen. All home-based food preparation and storage will require approval from the City. 

Types of food that may be approved

The following foods are generally approved: 

• Jams, marmalades

• Flour based products such as biscuits, shortbread, scones, buns, muffins and cakes which do not contain potentially hazardous foods such as cream and custards

• Nougats, fudges, meringues, Turkish delights

• Food activities such as cake decorating, repacking of bulk packaged low risk confectionery products

• Pickled onions

• Herb vinegars with a pH of less than 4.5

• Chutneys, relishes and sauces that are heat treated by boiling or cooking

• Dry Curry powder mixes if ingredients are purchased from an approved food business and the same rule applies for all other spices and spice mixes. 

certain exemptions for the required fit-out standard of the kitchen if only low risk foods are being prepared; jams, baked good and other shelf stable food products fall under this exemption. See the operating a Food Business from a home kitchen information sheet. 

Step 1

Determine if you require Planning approval

Refer to the Development Application/Approval (Planning) page for more information. 

Or contact the City's Planning Department on 9394 5000. 

Step 2

Complete applications

As required under the Food Act 2008 the business must be registered with the local council where the business is based. Home-based business must complete both the Food Business Notification/Registration Form and Food from home form. 

Your application must be accompanied by full recipe details for all of the foods to be prepared or manufactured.
Please ensure that you include the following:

• A full ingredient list of all products you wish to manufacture

• Manufacturing process—details of each cooking step (including cooking time expressed in minutes and temperature used expressed in degrees Celsius)

• Details of storage conditions for raw ingredients and finished product to prevent contamination

• A copy of the label (if required) for the product, compliant with the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code

Food Business Notification/Registration Form

Food from Home Form

Note: once your form is submitted, the City may contact you requiring further information. 

Fees apply, you will be issued with an invoice  for the application fee once a desktop review of your application has been completed. 

Step 3

Required health inspection

Before the Food Business is registered under the Food Act 2008, your local Environmental Health Officer will need to conduct a health inspection at the proposed business location. 

If the above process is followed and the business is deemed to comply with the Food Act 2008 / Food Standards Code then a Food Business Registration Certificate will be issued, following payment of an annual risk assessment fee.

For fees and charges details refer to the Schedule of Fees and Charges. 

Proprietors must notify the City in writing of any changes to their food business, this includes:

• Change of ownership or contact details, by submitting a completed Food Business Notification/Registration Form

• Closure of business

• Change of food business activities.

The penalty for not providing this information is $20,000 for an individual or $100,000 for a company (as per s.113 of the Food Act 2008). 

Food business notification/registration form 

Proprietors or settlement agents can request a written report for the food business prior to settlement. To request a settlement enquiry, please complete the settlement enquiry form . 

For fees and pricing details refer to the Schedule of Fees and Charges.

Food business notification/registration form