Food Businesses
Under Western Australian legislation, the City of Swan is responsible for the regulation of food production, storage, transport and sale for food businesses within its jurisdiction. This means that you need to obtain all relevant approvals and register your business with us. Follow these steps to guide you through the application process.
Check your zoning
If you are purchasing or leasing a property to run your business, you may need to check the zoning of this property for permissable use.
- Go to our IntraMaps system, select "Property" from the Modules listed at top left of screen, and then type the address of the proposed business location into the "Address" search tab at bottom left of screen.
- The property will be displayed on screen with associated details of the "Parcel" displayed to the right of screen. The property zoning will appear.
- Using the Zoning Table, find the zone and use classes to determine whether the proposed business is permissible in that zone. Scroll down the zoning table to find what the symbols used in the zoning table mean.
- If the property falls in the "Industrial Development", "Special Rural" or "Residential Development" zones, you will need to contact our Statutory Planning Services team on 9267 9267 during office hours.
Submit a Planning/Development Application (DA)
The Planning Application and Development Application are the same document. This document needs to be completed by all businesses that require planning or development approval.
Pay the appropriate fee
See the Statutory Planning Schedule of Fees and Charges.
Establishing a Food Business
Obtain approval from the City of Swan's Health Services to ensure that your business meets all relevant requirements. Submit two copies of the planned structural fit-out of your premises to the City's Environmental Health Officer (EHO) along with your completed Application and Guidelines for the Establishment or Alteration of a Food Business. Health Services will assess your application, and if successful, will send you an approval document.
When establishing a food business, it is important that you conduct extensive research on the approvals, permits and licences issued by the City. It is very common that people are not aware that in many instances, approvals from Planning and Building Services are also required.
Where approvals from Planning and/or Building services are required, you must not commence the operation of your food business even if you have obtained an approval from the City's Health Services Unit.
Constructing a Building
The Building Act 2011 and Building Regulations 2012 commenced on 2 April 2012 and introduces a new building approval process for Western Australia. It will replace the Building Regulations 1989 and much of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1960.
This changes the way that building permits (previously known as building licenses) are applied for and processed. To access more information including forms and guides, please visit the Building Commission.
Constructing a building relating to your business will also require planning/development approval. For further assistance, you may visit the Council offices at 2 Midland Square, Midland, or call 9267 9267 during office hours to speak to the duty Statutory Planning Officer.
Business Registration
Before you can start operating your food business or make any significant changes to the food you sell or handle in your business, you must register your business with the City of Swan. Simply complete the Food Business Notification Registration Form and send it to Health Services.
(Please note that a "Food Business Notification Registration" is NOT a "Registration of Business Name" certificate.)
Settlement Enquiry Report
If you are purchasing an existing food business, you can lodge a settlement enquiry to the EHO for the applicable fee. The City will then issue a written report detailing any outstanding health issues for the premises.
Annual Fees
When operating a food business, you are required to pay an Annual Food Safety Service Fee. Food businesses will receive an invoice for the Annual Food Safety Service Fee between May and June each financial year. For more information regarding the Annual Food Safety Service Fee, please call Health Services during office hours on 9267 9267 or visit our Food Safety page for more information about the safe handling and preparation of food.
Alfresco Dining
Before placing chairs and tables on the footpath outside your food premises, you must gain approval first. To do this:
Commercial Mobile Trading
All commercial food vehicles and food stalls must complete an Application for a Street Trading Licence and pay the relevant fees before selling food to the public within the City of Swan. It is mandatory that your application also includes a copy of your Certificate of Registration. If you don't have a Certificate of Registration, please contact your local government authority to arrange for one to be issued.
For mobile food businesses located (ie parked, garaged and/or based) in the City of Swan, please contact Health Services on 9267 9267 during office hours to discuss the process of obtaining a Certificate of Registration.
Not for Profit Organisations
If you require an Application for a Street Trading Licence as a one-off application, you will NOT be required to provide a Certificate of Registration with your application. However, application fees will still apply.
For further information, please contact:
City of Swan - Health Services (EHO)
PO Box 196
MIDLAND WA 6936
Tel: 9267 9267