Food Vans and Food Stalls

All food businesses and community groups that sell food from a temporary or mobile food premises such as a market stall, festival stall, food truck or coffee cart must hold a FoodTrader certification and hold a valid Mobile Trading Permit from Council.

If you are having trouble determining which local Council you need to apply to, you can search the intended trading address to find out the details.

FoodTrader Registrations

Registration and notification is applied for and managed online through the Victorian statewide system called FoodTrader.

Once your application is submitted, an Environmental Health Officer will review your application to determine whether your classification is correct and if there are any fees applicable.

It is important to note that an application to register can take up to 21 days to process, however in most instances it will be much quicker.

If your application involves preparation and handling or storing of foods at your home, you will need to go through home-based registration requirements.

Once your application has been approved and have received a Certificate of Registration you will then be able to submit a Statement of Trade (SOT) which is notification to the relevant municipality you will be trading in. You are required to submit a Statement of Trade at least 1 day prior to the event.

Council officers may inspect your temporary or mobile food premises, please ensure that you follow safe food handling and storage practices. For more information, please refer to the Selling Food from a Temporary Food Premises ( PDF 1.7MB).

You need to make sure you are aware of the requirements and are properly set up before you start preparing and selling food. If you have any questions call the Environmental Health Unit on 9262 6197.

Apply for a Mobile Trading Permit

Apply for a FoodTrader registration

Mobile Trading Permits

A Mobile Trading Permit is required to park a mobile food van on Council land or roads. If placed on Council land, the assessment of an application may take up to six (6) weeks to allow for community consultation to determine any potential impacts to businesses nearby. Council officers will carefully assess the proposed location and whether it may have an adverse impact on surrounding businesses or the surrounding area.

NOTE: The above advice does not relate to Council events and a permit is not required for operation on private property.

Mobile Trading Permit Conditions

If the permit holder is a food trader (including coffee vans etc.) they must lodge a Statement of Trade via FoodTrader (formerly Streetrader) at least one (1) business day before trading.
A Statement of Trade (SOT) certificate is to be submitted if requested by the Council.
The permit holder must comply with Council’s Health Department regulations.
The permit holder must provide evidence of $20 million of public liability insurance for the permit period.
The permit holder must ensure that all the permit conditions are complied with at all times.
The permit must be produced to an Authorised Council Officer or Victorian Police Officer on request.
The permit holder will comply with all directions by a member of Victoria Police or an Authorised Council Officer.
Noise from mobile trading activity must be kept to a minimum at all times.
Any litter generated from or around the mobile trading site must be removed and disposed of by the permit holder. The area must be left in a neat and tidy condition.
The permit is not transferable:
- Permits are not to be leased, sold or given away
- No form of advertising of a permit for rent, lease, sale profit or other beneficial or fraudulent consideration of causing such an advertisement to be published is permitted.
The permit is only valid at the stated location on the permit.
The permit is only valid for the date and times stated on the permit.
Allocation of permits shall be on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. An individual applicant shall not be allocated the same site more than four (4) times in any calendar year.
At the conclusion of the permit period a new application form must be submitted.
The permit holder must set up in accordance with the Disability Discrimination Act (1992) principles and relevant codes and standards to provide unobstructed access to others using the area.
A minimum unobstructed distance of 1.8 metres must be maintained from the property line and 0.5m from the kerb at all times.
Only the items specified on the permit may be placed on Council land and must be secured at all times.
Where an A-board and flag are displayed, a maximum of One A board and One flag are permitted. The A board must not be greater than 0.6 metres by 0.9 metres.
This permit does not authorise the permit holder to conduct fundraising activities
No sound amplification equipment may be used.
Council will NOT allow, without a valid Council permit, the installation of permanent structures, including electrical lighting and sound systems on Council land.
Separate permits are required for furniture such as A-frame display boards, planter boxes, goods on display, tables, chairs, umbrellas and barriers or any other material.
Any drawings, sketches or other artwork made on any footpath must be easily erasable, in a non-permanent medium such as chalk, charcoal or pastel which cannot be detrimental to the environment.

Breach of Permit Conditions

The permit may be cancelled.
Fines may be issued.
Costs incurred by Council may be charged directly to the permit holder.
Goods or equipment may be impounded.
Future permit applications may be declined.

Council Mobile Trading Permit Application Considerations

In deciding whether to grant a permit, Council will take into consideration:

The nature, time, locations and duration of the proposed activity
Details supplied by the permit applicant
The suitability of the supporting documentation for the application
The applicant’s record in applying for similar permits and adherence to permit conditions
Whether any interference will be caused in the area
The outcomes of previous community consultation, where applicable.

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Mobile Trading Permits