Mobile and temporary food sellers operating in the Northern Beaches need to comply with all aspects of the Food Act 2003. Here we explain the specific requirements you need to know to sell food through mobile or temporary premises.

Planning rules relaxed for ‘dark kitchens’ and food trucks

Changes making it easier for people to set up and operate a ‘dark kitchen’ in any existing commercial kitchen, providing they can abide by social distancing rules, have been introduced.

Food trucks can also now operate on any land, at any time, providing they have landowner’s consent, for the duration of the Covid-19 Public Health Orders.

To meet your requirements of the Food Act 2003 please complete the Mobile Food Premises Application Form

Please note that Environmental Health fees have been waived for the duration of Covid-19.

For further information please visit NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment

Mobile Food Vans

Mobile food vans are required to:

• Be registered with Council and have approval to operate a mobile food van which needs to be displayed on your vehicle
• Be constructed in accordance with the NSW Food Authority Guidelines Mobile Food Vending Vehicles
• Comply with all aspects of the Food Act 2003 

All mobile food premises are subject to inspection and approved inspection fees are charged $454 (2021/22 fee).

or low risk (for vendors that do not serve food and only heat milk) $286 (2021/22 fee).

• optional $257 urgency fee for processing within 2 days
• optional $117 urgency fee for processing 3 -10 working days 

Trading conditions:

• Must not trade within 200 metres of a fixed food premises
• Must not trade within 200 metres of an event unless approved by event organiser
• Must not trade on, access or enter any reserve (including reserve carparks) unless separate written approval from Council is provided and displayed on vehicle
• Must not place any other item outside the vehicle, including tables, chairs, food, equipment
• Must comply with road rules
• Vending is only permitted from any one location for a maximum of 1 hour over 24 hours, unless vending is associated with an approved event and approval has been granted as an “approved trader”.

Temporary Food Premises

All temporary food stalls should be constructed and operated in accordance with Council’s requirements for the operation of a Temporary Food Stall.  View the NSW Food Authority Guides

Temporary events and their food stalls must be correctly registered with Council and each display a current approval.

Food stalls are also subject to inspection with fees charged (2021/22):

• $257 for a 2 year Temporary food approval medium and high risk
• $257 for a 3 year Temporary food approval low risk (eg. only heats milk, no potentially hazardous food)
• $154 for a one day/single event approval.
• optional $257 urgency fee for processing within 2 days
• optional $117 urgency fee for processing 3 -10 working days