As part of its responsibilities in promoting and enhancing community health and safety, Council approval, in most cases, must be obtained for:
- the use of new business premises
- the change of use of premises.
Relevant approvals are required for any associated building work and fit-outs.
This assists Council and other authorities in responding to potential health and safety issues and incidents.
In most cases you will need to submit a Development Application and obtain a Construction Certificate for building work, including any fit-out work. Sometimes, only a Complying Development Certificate is needed.
Types of premises to be registered
The following types of premises must be registered with Council:
- all permanent and temporary food business premises
- hairdressing salons
- skin penetration businesses including ear piercing, tattooing, and manicuring
- beauty salons
- licensed bars and hotels
- buildings containing cooling towers and warm water systems
- nursing homes and aged care facilities for kitchens and food safety
- childcare centres providing or serving food
- on-site sewage management systems, including greywater treatment systems
- places of shared accommodation, including boarding houses, backpackers, B&Bs, hotels, motels and tourist accommodation
- places of public entertainment, including hotels, nightclubs, registered clubs, discos, function centres and other licensed premises providing entertainment
- brothels and other sexual services.
The following changes for these premises must also be registered with Council:
- change of proprietor or business manager
- change in business operations
- change of addresses.
Compliance requirements
The operation and maintenance of premises must comply with the relevant laws, standards and approvals. Where the premises don't comply, Council can issue on-the-spot fines and give directions to comply.
Where there is a serious breach Council can start legal proceedings, which may result in a significant penalty.
Council inspections
Council's Environmental Health and Building officers can inspect business premises to check compliance. After the inspection, Council will send an invoice for the inspection which must be paid within a set period. The fee is set out in the City Planning section of Council's Fees and Charges.
Application and registration forms
The following application and registration forms can be found on our Forms page.
Food Premises
Temporary Food Premises, Stalls and Vendor
Mobile Food Vendor
Health Premises: includes hairdressing salons, skin penetration, ear piercing, tattooists, beauticians, cooling towers and warm water systems, aged care facilities, childcare centres, greywater treatment systems, on-site sewage management systems, brothels and other premises providing sex services.
Place of Public Entertainment: includes all licensed premises providing entertainment and private or public functions
Place of Shared Accommodation: includes boarding houses, backpacker accommodation, B&Bs, hotels, motels and tourist accommodation.