When starting a new food or health business such as a restaurant, café, takeaway shop, hairdressers, beautician, tattooist, it is important to contact the Business Concierge to organise a new business meeting, which includes an officer from our Environmental Health section.
A new business meeting provides an opportunity to ask questions specific about your business, and will ensure you have a clear understanding of both the structural and food/health processing requirements to meet compliance and therefore have your permits issued without delays. It is best you attend this meeting prior to signing a lease.
You should bring along a floorplan of the business, displaying all equipment and sink locations (see examples below) and if it is a food business, a proposed menu.
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 New Food Premises Information Kit, as this information will be relevant to your application and bring this along to the meeting with any questions you may have.
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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 new food business information kit) 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 (refer to new food business information kit) 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 and other permit requirements. e.g., Planning, Building and City West Water.
The New Food Business Information Kit can be downloaded below.
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 Streatrader (Streatrader is operated by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and is a statewide registration process):
- Streatrader 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.
- Streatrader Transfer Application (Change of Principle Council): If you wish to transfer your currently registered food business, please make application on Streatrader. Council will contact you once your application is received to make a time to discuss your transfer.
Visit the Streatrader website via the link below.
Please note: Any proposal may require other permits e.g., city west water, planning, building and local laws. This will be discussed at a meeting with Council’s Business Concierge.
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 below.
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.
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