Food Business & Food Safety

You must apply for a Food Business Licence with Cassowary Coast Regional Council if your business involves the handling of unpackaged food for sale.

Common Examples:

• Cafés, restaurants, and takeaway outlets
• Home-based food producers (jams, cakes, etc.)
• Mobile food vans, trailers or food boats
• Food stalls at markets and events

Step 1: Complete the Application Form

• Fill in the Application for Food Business Licence Application available from Council.

Include with your application:

• Detailed plans and specifications of your food premises
• Payment of the relevant fee

Step 2: Submit Your Plans (New Businesses or Fit-Outs)

You must submit a design and fit-out application showing:

• Site layout plans and elevations (scale no smaller than 1:100)
• Fixtures, fittings, and finishes
• Any construction or renovation details necessary for assessment

Council’s Environmental Health Officers will assess your design and issue a conditional approval for construction.

Step 3: Final Inspection

Once construction is nearly complete, request a final inspection by an Environmental Health Officer.

You will then receive:

• Final approval and your licence, or
• A notice outlining any outstanding requirements

Note: Food premises must comply with Food Safety Standard 3.2.3 for Food Premises and Equipment.

You need to submit an Footpath dining application to Council if you plan to use public land (like footpaths or verges) for outdoor dining. A footpath dining licence ensures the area is safe, accessible, and doesn’t obstruct pedestrians or traffic.

You need to apply if:

• You want to place tables, chairs, umbrellas, or barriers on public land.
• You're starting a new outdoor dining area.
• You’re changing or expanding your existing approved outdoor dining space.
• Your current approval has expired and needs renewal.

You may not need to apply if:

• The dining area is entirely on private property.
• You already have a valid approval and are not making any changes.

For more information read the Footpath Dining Guidelines Here

Before you purchase or lease a food premises, it is recommended that you apply for a Health Search. This allows Council to assess whether the premises complies with food safety regulations.

To arrange this, complete a Business Sale Search and Inspection Form and pay the applicable fee

Council licenses certain low-risk food activities from home kitchens, allowing you to prepare food for markets, events, or direct sale.

Acceptable Foods for Home-Based Preparation:

• Chutneys and jams
• Cakes and biscuits
• Other non-potentially hazardous snacks

Application Requirements:

• Complete the Food Business Licence – Category 4 form
• Include a layout plan of your kitchen
• Pay the Category 4 fee
• Arrange an inspection of your kitchen by Council

You will either receive a licence or a notice outlining changes required to meet compliance.

Note: Contact Council before preparing any food outside these categories.

Mobile food businesses include food trucks, trailers and boats.

To Apply:

• Submit a Mobile Food Business Licence Application
• Provide a scale drawing of your mobile setup
• Pay the applicable fee

An inspection may be required prior to operation.

If you plan to operate on Council land or public areas, you must apply for a:

• Stationary Vending or Mobile Roadside Vending Permit
• Areas for vending are limited and subject to the Stationary and Mobile Roadside Vending Guidelines

This includes vending outside of markets or events.

Contact Council to discuss availability and suitability.

• Some businesses and activities do not require a food business licence. These include:
• Sale of whole fruit or vegetables
• Sale of non-perishable snack foods (e.g. nuts, confectionery, packaged biscuits and cakes)
• Drinks such as tea, coffee, soft drinks, or alcohol (not including fresh juice processed onsite)
• Food prepared at home and donated to a non-profit (e.g. for school fetes)
• State school tuckshops operated by Parents and Citizens Associations
• Non-profit organisations serving meals like toast, cereal or fruit
• Sausage sizzles and fundraising BBQs by non-profits
• Meals reheated by a non-profit that were made by a commercial manufacturer

Even if a licence is not required, safe food handling and hygiene practices still apply.

Every licensed food business must have a Food Safety Supervisor.
This person must:

• Have completed relevant food safety training based on the type of food business.
• Complete the training through a Registered Training Organisation (RTO).

The responsibilities of food business owners are outlined in the Food Act 2006.

To help all staff understand the basics of food safety, Council recommends completing the free ‘I’M ALERT’ online training.

• It's free, interactive, and easy to follow.
• A certificate is available after completion, which you can keep for staff records.
• Helps make sure everyone handling food is doing it safely.

Some food businesses are legally required to have a Food Safety Program. This is a detailed plan showing how your business will manage food safety.

You need a Food Safety Program if you:

• Do on-site catering as your main business.
• Cater 12 or more events in a year for 200+ people.
• Prepare food to serve off-site (not at your business premises).
• Provide food to vulnerable people – such as in nursing homes, child care centres, or Meals on Wheels.

A Food Safety Program Auditor must review your program and give you written advice. You’ll then submit:

• Your program
• The auditor’s advice
• Form 3 – Application for Accreditation of a Food Safety Program

Tip: It’s best to apply for your food business licence at the same time.

If Council approves your program, they’ll issue you an Accreditation Notice.

The Cassowary Coast Regional Council provides free access to the I'M ALERT Food Safety training program.

It includes:

• A fun, interactive presentation
• Quizzes to check your knowledge
• Chinese language options
• A training acknowledgement form for your records

Click the I’M ALERT button to get started.