Business permits

Depending on the nature of your business, you may need to get permits from Council or other providers before you start trading. These could include planning permits, food registration, health registration or outdoor trading permits.

We've designed a self-assessment tool you can use to work out what permits you may need, and what triggers each permit.

It takes less than five minutes and will give you clarity about the next steps. We encourage you to complete it and send it to our Economic Development team so that we can support you through the process.

Take the self assessment

Planning

You may need a planning permit if you're considering:

working from home
moving your business from home into another area
undertaking buildings and works
erecting business signage.

Apply for a planning permit

Building

You must have a building permit before any building work can begin. You may also need a planning permit for the proposed works (even where a building permit may not be required).

Apply for a building permit

Food, beauty, accommodation premises

You'll need to be registered under either the Food Act 1984 or Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 if you're planning on operating one of these businesses:

food
hairdressing
beauty treatment
electrolysis
ear and body piercing
colonic irrigation
tattooing
prescribed accommodation.

Accommodation permits

Prescribed accommodation including bed and breakfasts, residential accommodation, hotels, motels, and hostels where five or more residents are capable of being catered for must be registered with us under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008.

Specific requirements relating to the prescribed accommodation premises are set out in the Health (Prescribed Accommodation) Regulations 2001.

Inspections by our Environmental Health Officers aim to address issues relating to:

Overcrowding
Maintenance and cleanliness
Number of fixtures (such as showers, toilets, hand wash basins, etc) per person accommodated
Water supply
Refuse collection and disposal.

Caravan park form 1

Caravan park form 3

Installation of moveable dwelling or rigid annex in a caravan park application

Registration of a prescribed accommodation premises application

Health and beauty permits

All current and new health establishments operating within the Shire are required to be registered with us on an annual basis. All new businesses must ensure they are registered prior to the commencement of operation of the business.

It is the proprietor's responsibility to ensure the premises are registered with Council annually.

Under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008, health businesses that conduct the following activities must register with us:

Beauty therapy	Any procedure intended to maintain, alter or enhance a person's appearance by, facial or body treatments, application of cosmetics, manicures or pedicures, application or mending of artificial nail and epilation including by electrolysis or hot or cold wax.
Hairdressing	Any procedure intended to maintain, alter or enhance a person's appearance in relation to facial or scalp hair by trimming, styling, cutting, and colouring, treating or shaving hair.
Skin penetration	Any procedure performed on a person other than a surgical or medical procedure that involves, piercing, cutting, scarring, branding, scraping, puncturing or tearing of the skin using an instrument.
Tattooing	Any process that involves the penetration of a person's skin to make a permanent or semi-permanent mark, pattern or design on the skin.
Colonic irrigation	A procedure involving the cleansing of a person's colon.

Eligible businesses – those that solely provide hairdressing and/or low risk beauty therapy services at their premises – are now able to apply for ongoing registration.

If you would like more information, require your premises to be registered or your registration needs to be renewed contact our Environmental Health Officer.

Details should be updated with us when the address, proprietor or business name changes.

Our Environmental Health Officers have powers under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 to inspect any premises.

All new businesses must register with us before beginning operation. This process involves submitting plans and specifications, completing a registration application form, and undergoing a final inspection before the new business can begin operating.

Beauty/Hairdressing/Body Art/Therapies Registration Application

FoodTrader

In Victoria, all food premises are required to have a Food Act registration before selling food. This includes fixed premises, such as cafes and restaurants – but also temporary and mobile food premises, water carters and vending machines. FoodTrader is the online registration database for businesses and community groups to register and notify their temporary or mobile food premises, vending machine or water carting business.  FoodTrader allows business and community groups to: