I want to run a home-based food business

Home-based food businesses are kitchens that operate from residential dwellings. A home-based food business uses a domestic kitchen to prepare food for sale. Domestic kitchens are normally not designed for commercial operations, as a result business activities undertaken in home-based food businesses must follow strict food handling practices and kitchen fit-out requirements.

Rules to set up a home-based food business

To obtain a food business licence to handle and sell food from your home kitchen, you must satisfy the requirements specific to the business’s food handling activities. There are three risk categories for home-based food businesses.

The risk categories are called tier 1, 2 or 3 home-based food businesses

• Tier 1 - Higher Risk
• Tier 2 - Medium Risk
• Tier 3 - Lower Risk

Each home-based food business tier has its own specific rules around food handling practices and food business fit-out.

The table below provides an overview of actions and practices permitted within each tier.