Environmental Health permits are required for any food or health related businesses (for example: Restaurants, cafes, bars, take-away food, food manufacturers, bakeries, hair dressing, massage, nail clinics, beauty salons, home-based food production, mobile food vans etc).
Food businesses
Ensuring safe food is provided to the community across the City is a high priority for Council. Council is committed to assisting new food business proprietors understand food safety requirements along with Council’s approval process. As part of this process, all applicants are encouraged to familiarise themselves with Council’s Information Kit - New Food Premises, as this information will be relevant to your application and bring this along to the meeting with any questions you may have. The Information Kit - New Food Premises is available for download below.
Home occupation/residential businesses
If you wish to operate a business from home, you will need to enquire as to whether your home is suitable. Class 3 low risk food businesses (refer to the Information Kit - New Food Premises available for download below) and your home kitchen will need to meet the requirements of the Food Standards, in order to convert your domestic kitchen into a commercial operation.
Based on the type of food processes and foods wanting to be produced e.g., Class 1 & 2 high risk food businesses ie. Cafes & restaurants, etc (refer to the Information Kit - New Food Premises available for download below) your residential home may not be suitable for commercial operations. Converting your residential kitchen to a commercial operation will require a purpose built facility, meeting the Food Standards Code and other permit requirements. e.g., Planning, Building and City West Water.
Please note: If you are renting you will require approval by the owner or the Body Corporation to operate a food business from a residential premises prior to any works being carried out.
Mobile and temporary food businesses
Food businesses (including mobile food businesses) may wish to operate a temporary food premises on occasion. E.g. attend a festival and sell food.
To legally operate a temporary or mobile food premises in Victoria, you must make application online through Foodtrader (Foodtrader is operated by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and is a statewide registration process):
- Foodtrader New Application: will require you to either register or notify your temporary and mobile food premises with Council online in order to operate anywhere in Victoria. Council will contact you once your application is received to make a time to discuss your transfer.
- Foodtrader Transfer Application (Change of Principle Council): If you wish to transfer your currently registered food business, please make application on Foodtrader. Council will contact you once your application is received to make a time to discuss your transfer.
Visit the Foodtrader website
Please note: Any proposal may require other permits e.g., city west water, planning, building and local laws. This will be discussed at a pre-application meeting coordinated by Council’s Business Concierge with relevant council officers. We will continue these meetings as part of the application process.
Health businesses
Health Businesses wanting to operate from a commercial or residential premises, must meet all the health requirements along with Planning and Building requirements. Based on the risk of the operation, a purpose built facility may be required before approval can be given.
For further information download the DHHS Infection Prevention and Control Guidelines
Please note: If you are renting you will require approval by the owner or the Owners' Corporation to operate a health business from a residential premises prior to any works being carried out.
Related Information