City of Fremantle
Coastal Charm
If you want to open a new food business within the City of Fremantle, you will need to first ensure you have correct planning approval and building approval for the premises. Please note that the Environmental Health Department cannot proceed with your application if you have not provided evidence that you have obtained the appropriate approvals for the site or written confirmation that the site has the appropriate approvals in place. Planning / Building can be contacted by phoning 1300 MY FREO (1300 693 736) or email info@fremantle.wa.gov.au.
New food businesses must notify or register with the City’s Environmental Health Department by completing the application to register a new food business. Our food business construction guidelines will provide you with detailed information on approval and construction requirements.
Please note that applicants wishing to trade from a market operating from a ‘fixed set up’ location including fixed stalls at the the Fremantle Markets and E-shed Markets must also complete an application to register a new food business. Stalls operating in a ‘pop up’ style are required to complete a temporary food stall application form.
To transfer the registration of a food business both the seller and purchaser must complete an application to transfer a food business and submit the form to the City’s Environmental Health Team for approval.
Our environmental health officers routinely inspect all food businesses within the City of Fremantle for compliance with the food act, regulations and food safety standards to ensure hygiene and structural requirements are being maintained. The inspection rate is dependent on the food types sold or produced, previous inspection results and if vulnerable consumer groups are the targeted population. We also regularly sample food from city-based manufacturers such as bakeries and butchers.
I’m Alert – food safety training
Click here to find out more about food safety training.
The City of Fremantle has embraced the emerging national and international food truck scene and are activating ‘forgotten’ public spaces though the launch of a unique food vehicle project. The intent is to identify under-utilised public spaces in the community and make them available to diverse food vehicle businesses that offer culturally unique, healthy, fresh, high quality, safe and reasonably priced food.
Read more on our unique food vehicle page.
Find out more about alfresco dining here.
Temporary food stall holders wishing to trade at approved events or at a recognised market within the City of Fremantle require approval from our Environmental Health Services team.
Find out more about temporary food stalls here.
If you wish to sell food that you have prepared at home, then you must ensure you have obtained home occupation Planning approval first. Please note that the Environmental Health Department cannot proceed with your application if you have not provided evidence that you have obtained the appropriate Planning approvals for the site or confirmation from the Planning Department advising that the site has the appropriate approvals in place.
Once you have obtained the Planning information you will then need to complete the application to register a residential food business, and submit to the City of Fremantle.
For further information on what is required for residential food business to be suitable to prepare low risk foods visit the Department of Health website here or refer to the City’s food business construction guidelines.
Food products are required to be labelled in accordance with the Food Standards Code. The only exemption from this is food produced solely for community or charity fund raising events. For more information you can download the following brochures:
The food standards Australia New Zealand website may also be very helpful. Providing a nutrition panel calculator, simply specify the ingredients used and the calculator with generate the nutrition panel information.
