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Food Businesses

Food Businesses

Find essential information on starting, managing, or closing a food business in Kwinana. Learn about application processes, health and safety guidelines, required approvals, and how to ensure compliance with local regulations. Access forms, checklists, and contact details for assistance.

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Starting a Food Business in Kwinana

If you want to start a food business in Kwinana, you need to notify the City in writing. Make sure you have the necessary planning and building approvals before applying.

Forms to apply:

Send your completed forms and any required documents to health@kwinana.wa.gov.au.

Important: If you don’t register your food business, you could be fined up to $10,000 (individual) or $50,000 (company).

Safe Food Supply in Kwinana

The City of Kwinana’s Environment and Health Services team works to keep the community’s food supply safe. Environmental Health Officers do regular inspections, take food samples, investigate complaints, manage food recalls, and look into food poisoning cases.

All food business owners must follow these food safety standards:

Taking Over or Selling a Food Business

If you are starting or taking over a food business, you must complete the necessary notification/registration forms. If you are buying an existing food business, you can ask for a property enquiry or a pre-purchase inspection by an Authorised Officer (fees apply). This helps you know about any issues or requirements for the property and the deadlines for fixing them.

Building, Renovating, or Changing a Food Business

Before applying for Environmental Health approval, make sure you have the necessary planning and building approvals.

Steps for Health Approval:

  1. Plan Assessment: Submit an Application to Application to construct or alter of a food business detailed plans. You can submit this with your building permit application.
  2. Registration: Submit an Application for Notification or registration of a fixed food business​​ with all required documents.

Email your forms and documents to health@kwinana.wa.gov.au

Home-Based or Out-of-City Food Prep

 If you prepare or store food at home or outside Kwinana, you need approval as a home food business or proof of approval from another local government.

Changing Business Activities

 If you change your food business (e.g., from selling cakes to cooked meals), you need a new registration. Submit a new form with detailed plans and pay the fees.

High-Risk Food Production

Some high-risk food businesses (e.g., meat processors, dairy producers) need Department of Health approval or special food safety plans. The table provided clarifies the Enforcement agency responsibilities for WA food businesses and applicable regulatory requirements.

Child Care and Aged Care Centers

These centres must submit food safety plans for approval before they start operating. See Regulatory Food Safety Auditing Requirements for Food Businesses. for details.

For questions, contact an Environmental Health Officer at 08 9439 0475 or health@kwinana.wa.gov.au.

Business Types

  • Check where your food van will be parked (garaged). If it is not within the City of Kwinana, contact the local government in that area.

    Steps for Health Approval:

    1. Fit-Out Assessment: Submit an Application to construct or alter a food business with detailed fit-out plans and pay the required fees.
    2. Registration: Submit an Application - Notification/registration of mobile or temporary food business and trading in public places

    Send completed application forms and any required documents to health@kwinana.wa.gov.au.

    For more information, see the Checklist for Starting a Mobile Food Business.

    Mobile food vendors with an approved permit are encouraged to become a regular hirer through SpacetoCo. This will enable the Designated Trading Location to be reserved ahead of trading. Please refer to Guideline on How to Reserve a Designated Trading Location.

  • Some home food businesses may need planning approval.

    Types of home food businesses include:

    • Storing or repackaging food
    • Online sales of prepackaged, low-risk foods
    • Making low-risk foods, such as jams, cookies, cakes, bread, and confectionery

    To apply, complete the Notification/Registration Form for a Residential Food Business and send it with detailed plans and other required information to health@kwinana.wa.gov.au.

    Supporting Information May Include:

    • Detailed recipes
    • Details of the cooking process (temperature and time for each step)
    • Information on food storage and transport
    • Shelf life of the product
    • Packaging materials and labels
    • Proof of food safety knowledge (e.g., food safety certificate)
    • Your food recall procedure

    You may need to provide extra information to show that your food is safe to eat, such as:

    • Test results for microbiological, pH, or water activity from an accredited lab
    • Proof that the water supply is safe (if not using town water)

    For more details, see the guide to starting a home food business and/or the checklist for starting a home food business. 

  • Application can be submitted through our SmartyGrants Online Portal.

    For a temporary food stall set up and requirements, please see guidelines for temporary food stalls.

  • Here are tips for safely making or selling food at public events or for group activities like "bring a plate" (not for sale). For more information please contact us​ to speak to an Environmental Health Officer. 

Food Safety and Hygiene

The City supports the FoodSafe Food Handler Training Program by Environmental Health Australia. This training helps businesses learn about food safety and hygiene and includes record-keeping. Completing this program is recommended to make sure your business follows safe food practices.

You can complete the FoodSafe Food Handler Training Program on FoodSafe Online.

Use the City's discount code "FSKWINA344" at checkout to access FoodSafe Online for free.

Permit to Trade

To trade in the City of Kwinana, you need a valid food business notification/registration from a local government before filling out the Application Form for Trading in Public Place for Temporary or Mobile Food Businesses with existing registration or notification.

Rules for Mobile and Temporary Food Businesses: Mobile and temporary food businesses must follow:

Types of Trader Permits:

  1. Trade at an approved event or market – Check with the event organiser to see if you can join.
  2. Trade as an itinerant vendor – For example, an ice cream van driving through residential streets.
  3. Trade in designated areas – See the approved designated trading areas

Healthier Food Vendor Locations: Some areas are for healthier food vendors only. To qualify, vendors must:

  • Not display full-sugar drinks.
  • Offer at least one healthier food option on the menu.

Submit your completed application and supporting information to health@kwinana.wa.gov.au.

Food business fees

You will be advised of the relevant fees by an Environmental Health Officer as part of the application process. For full list of fees that may apply, see:

Selling or Closing Your Food Business

If you are selling or closing your food business, you must complete the Food Business Cancellation Form. You need to notify the City within seven days of the change. If you do not, you may face a fine of up to $20,000 for individuals or $100,000 for companies.

Further information

Please contact the City’s Environmental Health Services   on 0894390475 or health@kwinana.wa.gov.au for further information.

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City of Kwinana kaditj kalyakoorl moondang-ak kaaradj midi boodjar-ak nyininy, yakka wer waabiny, Noongar moort. Ngala kaditj baalap kalyakoorl nidja boodjar wer kep kaaradjiny, baalap moorditj nidja yaakiny-ak wer moorditj moort wer kaditj Birdiya wer yeyi.

The City of Kwinana acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we live, work and play, the Nyoongar people. We recognise their connection to the land and local waterways, their resilience and commitment to community and pay our respect to Elders past and present.

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