People viewing notes at a meeting

 Register a food business

Register a new food business

If you are opening a new food premises or wish to serve food as part of your accommodation service in Bayside, you need to apply for a food permit (Business Victoria). 

For more detailed information, view the  New Food Premises Information Kit (PDF, 148KB) 

How to get a Food Premises Certificate

To assist you in the preparation of your plans, further information can be obtained from  Food Premises Design and Construction Specifications (PDF, 55KB). 

  • Two copies of plans, together with a Plans Application Form (PDF, 56KB) and fee of $310, must be submitted to Bayside City Council prior to commencement of any works. 
  • Plans will be reviewed and endorsed either as ‘approved’ or ‘requiring amendment’. 
  • Once the plan is ‘approved’, a copy of the plans will be returned to the applicant. If an amendment is required, then two copies of the amended plans need to be forwarded before approval can be given. 
  • Work may commence once plans have been approved. 
  • Progress inspections are carried out throughout the project. 
  • A final inspection is required prior to the issuing of a Certificate of Registration. 
  • At the final inspection an ‘Application for Registration of food premises’ will be issued to the applicant. 
  • The ‘Application for Registration’ together with the appropriate fee must be forwarded to Bayside City Council prior to commencing operations.

Please note: For some premises types a Food Safety Program is required. In these instances, a Food Safety Program must be submitted in its entirety with the Application for Registration. 

  • A Certificate of Registration for Food Premises will be granted.

Note: On-site advice can be provided prior to signing a premises lease. Please contact the Council's Environmental Health department on 9599 4417 or email enquiries@bayside.vic.gov.au for further information.

For further information regarding food regulation or to get a Food Safety Program visit the Food Safety website

Food business registration fees

Registration forms are mailed to shop proprietors in November and payment is due by 31 December each year.

  • Category 1: Nursing Homes/Aged Care Centres, Child Care Centres, Hospitals, Special Accomodation, Meals On Wheels 
    • Cost: $505 plus $16 for each staff member (in excess of five staff)
  • Category 2: Food Manufacturers High Risk Foods, Supermarkets, Hotels, Food Kitchens, Caterers, Restaurants, Bakery, Cake Sales, Cafes, Takeaways, Delicatessens, Food Canteens High Risk, Juice Bars, Function Centres, Bed & Breakfast High Risk, Mobile Food Vehicles High Risk, Sporting Clubs High Risk 
    • $455 plus $16 for each staff member (in excess of five staff)
  • Category 3: Fruit & Vegetable Sales, Convenience Stores, Ice Cream Sales, Food Canteens Low Risk, Food Manufacturers Low Risk, Mixed Businesses, Cake Decorators, Sporting Clubs Low Risk, Kiosks, Health Food Stores, Mobile Food Vehicles Low Risk, Bed & Breakfast Low Risk 
    • $295 plus $16 for each staff member (in excess of five staff)
  • Category 4: Liquor Shops, Low Risk Packaged Food 
    • No Charge - Notification Only
  • Category 5: Temporary Food Premises for one off promotional, festival and other events not otherwise covered, Packaged Food >2M2 and/or requiring food safety plans, School Canteens.  
    • $122
  • Category 6: Temporary Food Premises for festivals and other community events not otherwise covered  
    • $65

Please note: 

  • a 50 per cent late fee applies to all the above registration fees. 
  • The list of fees and charges are subject to change.

Transfer of food business registration

When ownership of a premise changes, the new proprietor must submit a completed Application for Transfer of Registration form and applicable fee (50 per cent of the annual registration fee) to Bayside City Council.

Property enquiry

A prospective purchaser or solicitor acting on his/her behalf may request a report detailing any outstanding requirements and/or orders for an existing business. Note: A consent to disclose information from the current proprietor is required prior to release of the information.

A property enquiry fee of $200 is applicable. The standard response time is 10 working days, however if an urgent response is required a fee of $420 will be applicable. Urgent responses will be provided within four working days.

On receipt of the request, consent and appropriate fee, a Council Environmental Health Officer will conduct an inspection of the premises.

A report will be prepared and mailed together with an Application for Transfer of Registration to the person requesting the report.

A copy of the report will also be forwarded to the registered proprietor of the premises.

The following forms should be completed to release business information: 

Annual registration fee

To confirm the applicable registration fee contact Council’s Environmental Health Department on 9599 4417 or email enquiries@bayside.vic.gov.au

Single approval for temporary & mobile food premises to operate in Victoria

From 1 July 2011, a state-wide registration and notification scheme for temporary and mobile food premises applies under the Food Act 1984. All temporary and mobile food businesses are affected by these changes.

Depending on your food handling activities, if you operate a food van, food stall, food vending machines or a drinking water carting business you will only need to register with, or notify, the one council.

The state-wide registration and notification scheme will make it easier for food businesses and community groups that currently require multiple registrations to operate in different council districts.

Contact Council’s Environmental Health Unit on 9599 4417 for further advice or assistance on what you need to do and the forms you need to complete.

 Food vans and stalls – Single approval to operate in Victoria, class 2, 3 and 4, July 2011 (PDF, 90KB)
 Community Groups - Application to register temporary food premises (PDF, 226KB)
 Businesses - Application to register temporary food premises (PDF, 251KB)

If you require further information or clarification, contact Council's Environmental Health Department on 9599 4417 or email enquiries@bayside.vic.gov.au  

Class 4 premises exempt from requiring a Temporary Food Permit

A Class 4 food premises is no longer rquired to register on a yearly basis with council, under recent changes to the Food Act 1984 you must only notify the council. You wil be a Class 4 food premies and only need to notify Council if your only food handling activities are as follows:

  • The sale of shelf stable pre-packaged low risk food such as confectionery, crisps, frozen ice cream, milk, bottled drinks - for example, newsagents pharmacies, video stores and some milk bars.
  • The sale of packaged alcohol - for example, bottle shops
  • The sale of uncut fruit and vegetables - for example, farmers markets, green grocers and wholesalers.
  • Wine tasting (which can include serving low risk food and cheese).
  • The sale of packaged cakes (excluding cream cakes).
  • The supply of low risk food, including cut fruit, at sessional kindergarten or child care.

For a full list of Class 4 activities go to http://health.vic.gov.au/foodsafety.

Please complete a Notification of a Class 4 food premises form and submit to council for confirmation.

Free online food handler program

http://dofoodsafely.health.vic.gov.au/ – free online learning program for food handlers.

Application for temporary and mobile food premises

From 1 July 2011, a state-wide registration and notification scheme for temporary and mobile food premises applies under the Food Act 1984. All temporary and mobile food businesses are affected by these changes.
Under the state-wide registration system, one council in Victoria must be primarily responsible for approving your operations. This is the "principal council". You must lodge this form with that council. This is the council for the following Victorian district:

  • The district in which your food business prepares or stores food that is to be sold from the mobile or temporary food premises; or
  • If food is not usually prepared or stores beforehand by your business or organisation – the district in which your business mainly garages the mobile food premises or stores the equipment for your temporary food premises; or
  • If neither of the above apply – the district in which your usual business address is located; or
  • If none of the places listed above are in Victoria – the district in which the mobile or temporary food premises will first operate.

It is recommended that you contact your principal council before completing this form. This will ensure that you –

  • Understand your obligations under the Food Act;
  • Know which council to lodge your application with;
  • Use the correct form and know how to complete it;
  • Can be informed about the classification of the components of the food business; and
  • Know whether you need to have a food safety program.

Mobile Food premises application

The Application to register a mobile food premises is to be used to apply for state-wide registration of one or more mobile food premises (such as a vehicle, van, trailer or cart) from which food is sold.

Temporary food premises application

The Application to register a temporary food premises is to be used to apply for state-wide registration of one or more temporary food premises (stall, tent or other covered shelter) from which food is sold.

Community Groups - Application to register temporary food premises(PDF, 226KB)

If you require further information, please contact the Council's Environmental Health department on 9599 4417 or email enquiries@bayside.vic.gov.aufor further information.

Class 2 – Temporary premises

The 'Food Fundraisers' flyer contains important information for community groups which prepare and sell ready-to-eat foods, such as sandwiches containing cheese, smallgoods, sliced vegetables or salad, or any other potentially hazardous foods.

Events Food Safety Program Template – Class 2 temporary premises

The Events Template for events, one off events, temporary stalls, festivals and community groups operating a Class 2 temporary premises.

Link – www.health.vic.gov.au/foodsafety/bus/templates.htm#events

Important note: If your community group has already obtained state-wide registration, do not use pages i-iii and pages 1-2 of this Events template, as these no longer apply. They have been replaced by the new procedures for state-wide registration.

Class 3 – Food Safety Guide for Community Groups

The booklet provides a comprehensive guide to food safety for class 3 food premises. It includes advice on the kinds of food handling activities your class 3 food premises may run, and the records you are required by law to keep.

Food Safety Guide for Community Groups

Class 4 – Cake Stalls

Useful information about keeping food safe at your cake stall

Cake stall advice

Advice about your responsibilities under the Food Act 1984 and where to get more help.

Cake stall information

Class 4 – Sausage sizzles

Useful information about keeping food safe at your sausage sizzles.

SussageSizzle Information

Advice about your responsibilities under the Food Act 1984 and where to get more help.

Sausage Sizzle Advice

Statement of Trade for temporary and mobile food premises

If you have a current state-wide registration certificate for class 2 or 3 temporary or mobile food premises (or if your principal council has accepted your ongoing class 4 notification of temporary food premises) under the Food Act you can operate these premises anywhere in Victoria, but before you do so you must inform the councils in which you will be trading about your intentions.

At least five days before trading, you must lodge a Food Act statement of trade (SOT) in each council district where you will be operating. This includes your principal council, if you operate in that district. These forms can be used for ALL council districts in Victoria.

Statement of Trade temporary food

Statement of Trade mobile food

Food safety programs

The Food Act requires food businesses to develop and implement a Food Safety Program.

A Food Safety Program is a document that shows what steps you and your business are taking to make sure that the food you sell is safe.

The Food Safety Program also requires each business to appoint a Food Safety Supervisor (FSS).

For all new food premises, a Food Safety Program needs to be lodged with Council prior to your food business operating.

To find out more about templates and how to use them, or to download a Food Safety Program, visit Food Safety Victoria's website (also available in a number of languages besides English). (Health Victoria)

If you require further information or clarification, contact Council's Environmental Health Department on 9599 4417 or email enquiries@bayside.vic.gov.au

Food Safety Supervisor

The FSS must: 

  • Know how to recognise, prevent and alleviate hazards associated with handling food. 
  • Hold appropriate certification of completion of relevant training competencies provided by a registered training organisation. 
  • Have the ability and authority to supervise and direct other staff handling food and ensure that they have appropriate skills and knowledge relevant to the industry.

If the nominated FSS has not completed the necessary training before your business opens, your business will need to provide confirmation of enrolment in an approved course with submission of your Food Safety Program.

For more information about registered food safety supervisor training visit the National Training Information Service website

If you require further information or clarification, contact Council's Environmental Health Department on 9599 4417 or email enquiries@bayside.vic.gov.au

Food recall

In the event of a 'Food Recall', Bayside City Council's Environmental Health Officers will receive notification from the Department of Human Services advising the nature of the recall and any action to be taken.

The Environmental Health Officers will:

  • actively contact and/or check stores where product is likely to be stored; 
  • ensure stock has been removed to an area clearly designated for recalled goods; and 
  • seize stock if necessary or as requested.

To find out about current food recalls, visit the Food Standards website (Food Standards).

For further information contact Council's Environmental Health department on 9599 4417 or email enquiries@bayside.gov.au

Food newsletter

Council produces and distributes a quarterly newsletter for all local food businesses.

This newsletter contains information regarding Victroian food laws, new food safety methods and standards to improve food handling and hygiene practices.

View the latest editions of the Food News Newsletter.


Page last updated: 09 Jan 2012

I need to