Home Based Food Business
Douglas Shire Council will only consider Home Based Food Business using a Domestic Kitchen if the nature of the food being prepared and handled is low-risk and not at a commercial level (e.g. for events, fundraisers and markets).
Domestic kitchens are not designed to meet the Standards required of a Commercial Food Premise as they are not structurally constructed to meet the food safety requirements that are legislated in the Qld Food Act and the Australian Food Safety Standards. For example:
- Inability to separate food business activities from the household food preparation can pose an increased risk of food contamination,
- No designated separate hand wash basin for the kitchen,
- Non-Commercial grade surfaces and appliances
- Domestic range hoods do not comply with the Australian Standards for mechanical ventilation (AS 1668),
- Domestic dishwashers may not be capable of effectively sanitising equipment and utensils,
- Limited storage space (dry storage, refrigerator/freezer),
- Domestic refrigerators may struggle to maintain correct temperatures.
- Inability to exclude pets from food handling areas
Council Town Planning and Trade Waste approvals may also affect the feasibility of establishing a home-based food business. Contact should be made with these departments to discuss these legislative requirements prior to lodging a Food Business License.
Food Type | Category | Preparation and Sale in Douglas Shire | Preparation and Sale outside Douglas Shire |
Preparation & Sell to Commercial Retail |
Preparation & Sell on line |
Low Risk | Non-profit | Home Based Market Licence | Commercial kitchen Required | Commercial kitchen Required | Commercial kitchen Required |
Commercial | Home Based Market Licence | Commercial kitchen Required | Commercial kitchen Required | Commercial kitchen Required | |
High Risk | Non-Profit |
Commercial kitchen Required, not permitted from a Domestic Kitchen |
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Commercial |