Registration and licencing of premises (health licences)

When starting up a new business or purchasing an existing one, it always pays to check with the council if there could be any requirements such as consent applications (building consents and/or resource consents) or health licenses to apply for or to renew.

Once a prospective site for the business is determined, the first person the prospective proprietor should speak to is:

1. A planning officer to confirm that the proposed type of operation is permitted in the particular zone and if there are any requirements on operating hours, signs, car parking amd so on
2. A building officer should be contacted and a building consent application submitted if require
3. Once the planners and builders have approved the activity, an environmental health officer can be contacted to arrange a health inspection and health license application submitted.

Under the Health Act 1956 and council bylaws the businesses listed below are required to be licenced with the council and will be inspected by an environmental health officer at least once a year

• Food premises (including mobile food shops)
• Camping grounds
• Funeral homes and funeral directors
• Hairdressers
• Swimming, health and beauty facilities - massage clinics, beauty clinics, public swimming and spa pools and health and fitness centres
• Selling food at markets
• Skin piercers, acupuncturists and tattooists
• One-off events with food stalls.

The licenses are renewed annually on June 30 of each year or if the business changes hands.