Starting a public health or accommodation business

Preparing for Public Health and Wellbeing Act registration

Follow these steps to prepare your premises for health or accommodation business (premises) registration:

1. Contact our Business Concierge to check if any permits are required before registration. You must obtain these permits before applying for registration with Environmental Health Services.
2. Before setting up a new premises or refurbishing an existing one, contact our Health Services department to discuss your proposal. We highly recommend that you submit plans of the proposed works to ensure compliance.  For more information, see Plans approval service. Note: Accommodation premises must submit plans before proceeding to registration.

Plans approval service

You must complete the following requirements when providing us with plans for a new health business:

• Complete the relevant online application form below.
• Attach one copy of the floor plan of the business. All plans must include specifications and details of surfaces, fittings and equipment, according to our premises development guides. Download the relevant guide below.
• Pay the relevant plans approval fee (Note: this fee does not cover the Public Health and Wellbeing Act registration):
  • Health premises - $224.50
  • Accommodation premises - $356.45

We will process your application within 14 days of receiving complete plans and specifications.

We will then send you back:

• 1 copy of the approved plan
• A letter with conditions
• Contact details of the responsible EHO

We advise you not to begin any major work on setting up the new public health and wellbeing premises until you receive the approved plan.

Health premises inspections and registration

Our Environmental Health Officer (EHO) will conduct progress inspections during the construction of your public health and wellbeing business or premises to ensure it complies with the approved plans and specifications.

Before opening the public health and wellbeing business or premises, our EHO will complete a final inspection. If the business or premises meets the standards, you can apply for registration with us.

Application forms can be obtained from the EHO at the final inspection.

Registration fees

• Health premises -  $348
• Prescribed accommodation -  $426
• Aquatic Facility - $227 ($65 for every additional pool/spa at the same facility)

Public Aquatic Facility Registration

All operators of public aquatic facilities are required to either register or notify with Council under the Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2019. 

There are two types of categories of aquatic facilities, Category 1 and Category 2 (definition of categories), the requirements for each are as follows:

• Category 1 aquatic facilities must register with Council
• Category 2 aquatic facilities must notify Council
• Category 1 and 2 aquatic facilities must have a water quality risk management plan
• Category 1 and 2 must comply with the aquatic facilities provisions of the water quality guidelines

For further information on whether you will need to register or notify Council please e-mail publichealth@whittlesea.vic.gov.au

Further information

For health guidelines for the personal care and body art industries, visit the Department of Health website.