Home-based food businesses use their residential premises to handle food for sale. This includes preparing food for sale at local markets and retail outlets, home-based catering businesses and bed-and-breakfast accommodation.

The handling of food intended for sale includes all activities that may take place in relation to food including cooking, preserving, processing, preparing, packing, storing and transporting. All home based food businesses need to comply with the Food Act 2001 and Food Safety Standards, and have regular food safety inspections that incur inspection fees.

In most cases domestic kitchens are not suitable for the production of high risk foods, such as ready to eat meals, and it is expected these activities are conducted in a commercial kitchen. You will need to contact Council’s Environmental Health Officer before you begin your food activities from home. The Environmental Health Officer will arrange a time to visit your property to ensure your food preparation areas meet the Food Safety Standards and that you have the correct design requirements and equipment.

Download the Home-based Food Businesses Checklist to see if you meet the requirements.

If you are interested in starting your own home based food business but would like some further information, download the Home Based Food Business Fact Sheet.