Home-based food business

Step 1: Determine if you need a licence

Check the licence requirements table above to identify if you need a Food Business Licence.  If yes, continue to Step 2.

Even if you do not need a Food Business Licence, you must still comply with the other requirements of the Food Act and the provisions of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code.

Step 2: Check other approvals

Applying for a Food Business Licence does not give you approval to run the food business from your home. Your home-based business operation may require other approvals including:

• Town Planning approval to use the premises for your intended purpose – confirmation is required from Council’s Development Services Unit. Contact them by email at TownPlanner@cairns.qld.gov.au
• Trade Waste approval to discharge into the sewerage system – confirmation is required from Council’s Trade Waste Unit.

You can find out more in the CairnsPlan 2016  Home Based businesses factsheet ( PDF, 0.31 MB ).

All Council units can be contacted on 1300 69 22 47 or by email at council@cairns.qld.gov.au

You may also need to comply with Queensland Health requirements.

Step 3: Apply for a Food Business Licence

The operator of the food business must be deemed suitable, and have the required skills and knowledge to safely serve food to the public.

Apply

You will need to apply for your Food Business Licence: Domestic Premises – Home Based Business at least 30 days before you intend to start trading, to allow us to assess your application in time.

The applicant must be the person or company that intends to operate the food business, not the contractor building the food premises.  The applicant must be a legal entity (a person or company); a business name or trading name is not a legal entity and cannot be the licence holder.

You may also need to have a Food Safety Program (FSP) accredited with Council.  If so, you should submit your FSP together with your Food Business Licence application.

Assessment

During the Food Business Licence application process, Council will assess the suitability of the operator to safely prepare and serve food to the public.

Council will contact you if further information is required in order to consider your application. In this case, an extension of time will be needed to finalise the assessment.

Step 4: Request final inspection

Before you start trading, you need to contact Council to arrange a final inspection of your kitchen to determine if a Food Business Licence can be issued.

At your final inspection, Council’s EHO will check your premises to ensure it has been fitted out in accordance with your letter of approval.

Step 5: Decision

After your final inspection, if Council's EHO is satisfied that your premises have been fitted out in accordance with your approval and you are a suitable person to hold a food licence, you will be issued with your Food Business Licence. You may then start trading.

If you have not met all requirements but Council's EHO is likely to approve your application once you fix minor requisitions, you may be issued with a provisional licence (a short-term licence with conditions that must be met within a specified timeframe).  This will allow you to commence trading.  You can only receive a provisional licence for a maximum of 3 months, and if you don’t attend to the conditions in the timeframe, your Food Business Licence will be refused.

Alternatively, if Council is not satisfied that you have met the requirements of the Food Act to prepare and sell safe and suitable food, your licence application will be refused and you will not be able to trade.

Remember, you can't operate until your Food Business Licence application is approved. A copy of your food licence will be mailed to you within two days of your final inspection.  You must display it at your food premises in a prominent position so the details are easily visible to customers.

Step 6: Renewal

Council will send you an annual renewal invoice for your Food Business Licence. Pay on time to ensure you can continue to operate.

Be ready for inspections. Council’s EHOs can conduct compliance audits and inspections during your operating hours.

Remember to advise Council of any changes to your contact details to ensure you continue to receive your renewals and other relevant communication from Council.