Food business

• Takeaway shops/cafes/restaurants/bars
• Home businesses (food preparation, cake-making, jams etc)
• Supermarkets
• Bakery/butchers/seafood
• School canteens
• Delicatessens
• Bottle shops

We recommend that you first use our Business Self-Assessment tool to help you navigate the approvals you may need and then use the guide below to apply.  

Health Approvals

You will need to register your new business with the City’s Health team by completing a Food Business Notification & Registration Form and ensure that you have provided any supporting information and payment of fees.

Our online form below is the best way to apply for your licence. Simply click the link to get started.

Food Business Notification and Registration form

Planning Approvals

Home based businesses will require either a letter of compliance or a development approval, depending on which category your business falls under. Please review our Home Business Information to determine which category applies to you.

Businesses operating from a commercial premise may require development approval if you are proposing to do any of the following:

• Open a new business or change the nature of an existing business
• Change the operating hours of a business
• Increase the number of patrons and/or staff on site
• Increase the floor area in which you want to operate
• External building works (including changes to the area and/or type of signage)
• Provide car parking or increase/reduce car parking
• Make changes to a heritage listed site or protected building

Our online forms are the best way to apply for your approval. Simply click the link below to view further information and get started.

• Home business information and online forms
• Development application form

Building Approvals

If you are constructing a new building or making any internal, external or structural alterations to an existing premises (including fitouts) then you will require building approval. 

Please review our Building Services Information for further information on building application requirements.

Our online form is the best way to apply for your approval. Simply click the link below to get started.

Building Application form
 

If you are looking to take over an existing food premises, the following steps need to be taken:

1. New owner to complete a Food Business Notification and Registration form and pay new registration fees.
2. Old owner to advise in writing that the business has been sold (including the name and address of business, date sold and old owners name). This can be emailed to health@wanneroo.wa.gov.au

If you are looking to take over an existing food premises, the following steps need to be taken:

1. New owner to complete a Food Business Notification and Registration form and pay new registration fees.
2. Old owner to advise in writing that the business has been sold (including the name and address of business, date sold and old owners name). This can be emailed to health@wanneroo.wa.gov.au

The City of Wanneroo uses a risk bases classification system for food businesses which is determined by the type of food prepared and who the food is prepared for (eg. elderly people and children).

Food premises are classed into:

• Exempt: eg. newsagencies selling packaged confectionery
• Low Risk: eg. bars selling beverages
• Medium Risk: eg. most cafes and restaurants
• High Risk: eg. a food catering businesses for nursing homes and child care centres
   

Renewals are carried out annually and payment of the Food Business Safety Service Charge is due each September. All food businesses are required to pay the annual fee to cover the costs involved with inspecting, monitoring, sampling and other Local Government responsibilities associated with the Food Act 2008.

A renewal letter will be issued each year with payment options.

One of our Health Officers will need to carry out an inspection of your food business prior to operating. Routine inspections will also be undertaken throughout the year.