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Food Registration at Home

If you are thinking of operating a food business at home you will need to register, with your local Council, under the Food Act, in the same way as a café, restaurant or any other fixed premises.
 

Cooking in a kitchen

Advise that your food or health business has closed Food allergens and intolerances for everyone Food classifications Food premises notification Food registration - principal Council Food registration at home Food registration fees Food safety Food Safety Newsletter Food Safety Programs Guidelines for Temporary Food Premises Mobile food registrations New food businesses Pay a food or health registration renewal Register a Food or Health Premise Rubbish storage Temporary and portable food premises Trade waste

Research your idea

Remember:
Research and plan to ensure a viable business

When you are ready; registration under the Food Act and compliance with the relevant guidelines is arranged through our Environmental Health Unit.

You may need to deal with other parts of council including our:

  • Town Planning department to ensure that you can operate your business from the site you wish. There are also home based business guidelines which must be met
  • Building department should be contacted to determine if you need a building permit. Any building fit outs or alterations may require a building permit.

 

What you should be aware of

You will need to be familiar with the following information:

Food safety

Food safety is everyone's responsibility.

Start a new food business

All Victorian food businesses that handle, prepare, package, store, serve, supply or convey food must be registered or notify under the Food Act. 

Food registration

If you want to sell food or any type of drinks to the public, you need to register with or, notify your principal council. 

Food classifications

We are responsible for the classification of every food premise according to their food safety risk.

Food safety programs

Food Safety Programs (FSP) are required under the Food Act by some food businesses. 

Food labelling information

Food safety supervisor requirements

Temporary and mobile food registration

Food businesses operating from a temporary or portable site, like a marquee are required to be registered or notify under the Food Act, in the same way as a food business at a fixed address.

Food registration fees

The cost of food registration varies according to the classification, size and operations of the business that is being registered under the Food Act. 

Minimum requirements for a home business

The requirements of a home business will generally depend on the size of the food operation and the type of food that is being handled. 

  • Domestic kitchens are generally only suitable for small scale, low to medium risk food activities (Class 3/3A).
  • Large scale and or high-risk food activities (Class 2) should be conducted from a commercial kitchen.
  • Ensure you know more about Food classifications.
Examples of low / medium risk food activitiesExamples of high-risk food activities
Making preserves, chutneys, relishes to sell at markets, in retail stores or onlineCatering
Making shelf stable baked goods – e.g. cakes (including fruit cakes), cupcakes, bread and pastries, and biscuits that can be stored at room temperatureManufacturing / preparing foods that must be stored under temperature control e.g. packaged meals
Cake decorationProduction of allergen free foods
Bakery products that may contain low-risk fillings, for example, jam.Slow-cooking meats or preparing charcuterie platters
Re-packaging low-risk foods such as tea, cocoa powder or pre-made lollies.Takeaway foods
Note

If you are making allergen free claims this is generally not suitable to be conducted in a domestic kitchen.

There are many variables but generally you will need the following for a food registration at home to be considered:

  • adequate space for food handling activities to prevent cross-contamination (e.g. lots of cleared bench space for the volume of the food being handled),
  • adequate storage for your business equipment and food - separated from the normal family/household food and equipment,
  • adequate space for additional refrigerator/s or freezer/s if required,
  • a functional dishwasher, large enough to fit the equipment that will need washing,
  • double bowl sink,
  • an additional sink dedicated to handwashing may be required for some food activities within the kitchen area  - a laundry sink is not suitable,
  • all walls, floors, ceilings, benches and cupboards must be in good condition and are smooth, impervious and easy to clean,
  • ability to adequately exclude all pets from the food preparation area,
  • alternatively, subject to other council approvals and requirements, you may be able to fit-out a purpose-built commercial kitchen within your home for your food business.

Expansion of your business

A home-based business is often a good way of starting a new business. 

But if it becomes successful and expands beyond the capacity or facilities of your home kitchen, you will need to move your business to a more suitable premises, or you may start a café/restaurant, hire out a commercial kitchen or move to a factory or warehouse. 

Your Environmental Health Officer will discuss this with you at your annual food safety assessment.

Sale of your product

As part of your business plan you need to consider where you will sell your product.

Will this be at markets, events, wholesale to other food businesses or online?

Goods offered for sale online must not be collected from the dwelling – no uber/delivery or in person collections are permitted.

Renting

If you are renting at the address where you want to set up your home food business, you should check with your landlord as it may impact your rental agreement. Share houses or prescribed accommodation are not suitable to set up a home business.

Rates

We may charge a commercial rate on land used for predominantly commercial activities. (For example: where goods are made or services provided).

Where the commercial activities are located with a predominantly residential land use, we may apply a Mixed Use Rate which is lower than the commercial rate but higher than the residential rate.

The current rates are available in our Rating Strategy.

Application and Registration Process

When all planning and building requirements are met you can apply to register a premises under the Food Act.

Our Environmental Health Officer may request further information and/or an inspection of the premises prior to approval being given. 

Allow 4 - 6 weeks to complete this process 

Allow 4 - 6 weeks to complete this process 

  • Kitchen meets requirements
  • Business plan in place 
  • EHO will contact you within 10 business days to discuss your business 
  • EHO may request further information
  • EHO will advise you of the classification and fee payable

An invoice will be emailed to you within 5 business days

Payment should be made within 7 business days

When payment is received by us, the EHO will contact you within a further 10 business days to arrange a time to inspect your kitchen.
EHO will inspect your kitchen and go over the food safety information

EHO may request further information

EHO will verbally advise of any conditions that will be required for the registration to go ahead

An email will be sent to you within 5 business days confirming any conditions that will be required.

  • You will contact the EHO to advise that any conditions have been completed
  • A further inspection or photos may be required
  • When all conditions have been met the EHO will email you the Food Act Registration Certificate for your business.
  • You are now registered and ready to trade! 
  • All registrations are valid to 31 December each year.

We currently do not have pro-rata rates of registration - when approval is given all registrations are valid to 31 December that year.

During August each year, we present ‘Starting a New Food Business from Home’ at the Geelong Small Business Festival.

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