Register a food business

If you’re constructing a food premises from an empty shop, making changes to an existing food premises, or even considering using your own home kitchen commercially, please read the information below to help your journey.

1. Check whether Development Consent (DA) is required. If unsure, you make an appointment with one of our duty planners.
   
   
2. Typically works start once your certifier has issued a construction certificate. Registered building certifier’s need to ensure food premises construction standards are met during the construction phase.
   
   

3. You may need to get plumbing approval for any plumbing works, including the installation of a grease trap. Council's Plumbing and Trade Waste Officers will visit to inspect works under these approvals. You will also need to submit a liquid trade waste application for assessment. Learn more about the process here. 

4. A Council Environmental Health Officer will conduct a final inspection of the kitchen prior to opening. You will also need to notify (sometimes called register) the food business with Council.
   
   
5. A home-based business (Home Occupation) kitchen must comply with the same food premises construction standards that would apply for a commercial shop. Therefore, you should consider whether it is more viable to hire an existing commercial/community kitchen for your food preparation. The NSW government has some advice regarding what can be done at home.
   
   
6. After construction works have been completed, an Occupation Certificate may be needed. This can be done through the NSW Planning Portal.

Helpful information:

• This Design, Construction and Fitout Guide(PDF, 4MB) can help with your planning.
• This Preliminary Plans Checklist(PDF, 415KB) shows what we look for when approving changes to your premises.

Prior to buying an existing food premises business you may wish apply for a pre-purchase inspection report from our Environmental Health Officer team.

We will inspect the premises and compile a report detailing any issues with the physical premises from a food hygiene perspective which can alert you to any potential problems that will require fixing. Once you have purchased the business you will become responsible for fixing any works to ensure that the premises complies with legislative requirements.

Once you have purchased the premises, you are required to register your business.

All food businesses must either:

• Hold a NSW Food Authority licence
  This applies to food businesses in sectors covered by regulation under the Food Act 2003 (NSW).
• Notify the NSW Food Authority of their food activity details
  This depends on the type of business. Check if this applies to your business.
• Notify Council of their food activity details
  This depends on the type of business, check if you’re required to notify

Notify Council