Food permit

Step 1 – If you are unsure if you require a permit, you can contact our Business Permit Support team 9243 8866 or fill in our online Enquiry Form.

Step 2 – Determine your classification level.

Step 3 – Complete the application based on your classification.

Step 4 – Submit your application with any relevant documentation.

Step 5 – Your application will be assessed by an Environmental Health Officer.

Step 6 – A progress inspection may be conducted if required.

Step 7 – A final inspection must be conducted prior to opening.

Step 8 – You will receive an invoice for payment.

Step 9 – Once paid, you will receive your Registration Certificate and can begin trading.

Class 1, 2 or 3 Registration

• If you are selling high-risk foods (Class 1, 2, or 3), complete this form.
• To ensure compliance with the food safety standards we ask that you submit a proposed floor plan of your premises. Refer to Example Floor Plans and Guidelines.

Class 4 Notification

• If you are selling low-risk foods (Class 4), complete this form.

The following guidelines / tools will assist you with your application.

Commercial food businesses

• Watch this short animation about how to start a food business: restaurant.
• Design and Construction Standards (pdf, 632KB)
• Example floor plan - Commercial (docx, 158KB)

Home-based food businesses    

Watch a short animation about how to start a food business - home-based kitchen.

• Guidelines for home based business (docx, 300KB)

Food safety newsletter

Food Matters - Food Safety Newsletter 1 (PDF, 188KB) - food safety newsletter for food business

Sign up to receive our e-newsletter for food business. The newsletter will include information about updates to legislation, the responsibilities of food businesses and general food safety advice for your business. 

Classes of food businesses

All food businesses are classified and registered according to their level of highest level of food safety risk undertaken at the food premises. Your Environmental Health Officer will help you determine which class your business is when they review your application to register.

Class 1
Premises that predominately handle potentially hazardous food that is served to vulnerable groups and includes childcare centres, hospitals, and aged care facilities.

Class 2
Most food business fall into this category. Selling and handling high-risk foods. Cafes, restaurants, and some manufacturers

Class 3
Some manufacturers, convenience stores and some home-based businesses fall into this category. Premises that handle low-risk foods or pre-packaged potentially hazardous foods.

Class 3A 
Accommodation getaway premises selling food for immediate consumption or home-based businesses using a hot-fill process to make chutney, relish, salsa, tomato sauce etc.

Class 4 
Foods that pose a low risk to public including uncut fruit and vegetables, bottle shops, unpackaged drinks such as coffee, tea, soft drink and alcohol and pre-packaged shelf stable foods.

You can find more information about classes of food business on the Victorian Department of Health’s website.

Food safety programs

In Victoria, all class 1, and some class 2 food premises need a food safety program.

A food safety program (FSP) is a written plan that shows what a business does to ensure that the food it sells is safe for people to eat. It is an important tool to help businesses safely handle, process or sell potentially hazardous foods and maintain safe food handling practices to protect public health.

Some food businesses can use a registered standard food safety program template and others may need to use an independent food safety program that is audited by a registered food safety auditor.
Most class 2 business that are required to keep a food safety program will be able to use the standard FSP developed by the Victorian Department of Health - Foodsmart.

You can find more information about food safety programs on the Victorian Department of Health’s website.

Useful resources and training

• Information about Food Safety Supervisors (FSS) provided by the Victorian Department of Health – Food Safety Supervisors
• A recipe for food safety – A food safety management tool for food businesses provided by the Victorian Department of Health
• Foodsmart Standard food safety program (FSP) template by the Victorian Department of Health – for class 2 retail food businesses which require FSP (available in languages other than English)
• DoFoodSafely free online training provided by the Victorian Department of Health suitable for anyone working in a food business and available in languages other than English.
• Information about food safety programs
• All about Allergens free online allergen awareness training can be found on the Food Allergy Training website.
• Safe Food Australia - A guide to the food safety standards

Sometimes, members of the community may submit a complaint about the food or food safety practices at a business. These complaints are investigated by Council’s Environmental Health Officers.

Food recalls

A food recall is defined as 'an action taken to remove from distribution, sale and consumption, food which may pose a health and safety risk to consumers'.

A food recall may be initiated by:

• consumer complaints
• company testing
• government testing.

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is the coordinating agency for all food recalls in Australia.

Prompt notification of food recalls can help ensure quick removal of any affected food items that you may have within your business.

You can use the Food Standards subscription service to receive notifications of food recalls as well as updates.

If you plan to hold a temporary market stall, or if you run a mobile food operation, you will need to register with us. This also applies to community groups. 

Temporary market stalls include stalls and tents selling food at:

• fetes
• farmers markets
• craft markets
• shows
• festivals
• other short-term events.

Food trucks (mobile food premises) are vehicles such as vans, trailers or carts from which food is sold.

Regulations for temporary food and mobile food operators

Anyone running a temporary and mobile food premises such as market stalls and food trucks must obtain some level of Food Act 1984 registration to operate in Victoria. This also applies to community groups.

You will need to register with the principal council, which is where you prepare or store the food to be sold. If you do not store food, you will need to register with the council where your business is located.

It is easy to register using the FoodTrader website. This portal automatically determines and notifies your principal council. This website also allows you to lodge Statement of Trade documents.

Guidelines for temporary businesses (PDF, 482KB)

Temporary food premise layout (Food Standards Code) (PDF, 1MB)

Example floor plan mobile vehicle- Temporary food business (docx, 168KB)

Holding an event?

Visit our Hold an event page

If you suspect that someone is selling food without a permit, contact Council on 9243 8888 or report a food sale without a permit online.

If you are issued with an infringement for a premises registered with Council, you can apply to have the matter reviewed. To apply for internal review, please complete and submit an online application.