Step 1 - Planning

Depending on the area where you intend to operate your restaurant or café, you may be exempt from requiring planning approval.

Planning approval is not required where:

• Restaurant/café is identified as a P use under the City’s Local Planning Scheme; and
• There is no increase in floor area or patrons, alteration to the design of the building or requires an increase in parking bays.

The City has also prepared an information sheet of the change of use process for a restaurant/café which is available below:

Change of use process - Restaurant/café

If you have any questions, please speak to a Planning Officer on 9273 6000 or email mail@vincent.wa.gov.au.

Step 2 - Building permit

There is a common misconception that if the internal fit-out work is non-structural in nature or is less than $20,000, a building permit is not needed. That is incorrect.

In most cases, alterations and additions including internal fit-out work to both new and existing buildings would require a building permit from the City of Vincent as the proposed work could affect the way the building complies with the Building Code of Australia (BCA) and applicable Australian Standards.

For example, including but not limited to:

• Partitions could affect occupant egress to an exit when evacuating the building during a fire emergency.
• Existing facilities within the building may need to be upgraded to comply with disabled access requirements i.e. provide ramps, unisex accessible toilets, etc.
• The fit-out work could result in the relocation of or changes to existing fire services i.e. sprinkler system, smoke detectors, emergency lighting, exit signs, etc. 
• Poorly installed or inadequate commercial kitchen exhaust hoods and mechanical ventilation systems could cause odour and smoke nuisance to adjoining properties.

For information on the building permit process, please visit the following web pages:

Building Applications and Permits

If you have any questions, please contact the Building Services team on (08) 9273 6000 or email mail@vincent.wa.gov.au.

Step 3 - Health

A restaurant or café is classed as a food business under the Food Act 2008 and must be registered with the City.

The Department of Local Government, Sporting & Cultural Industries (Liquor Licensing Directorate) is responsible for issuing liquor permits. They may ask the City if there are any objections to issuing a permit, or request a ‘section 39’ certificate to determine health and building compliance. For more information visit their website.

For more information on the registration process, approval requirements and to download an application form please click the following link:

Food businesses

Liquor applications (section 39)

If you have any questions, please speak to an Environmental Health Officer on 9273 6000 or email mail@vincent.wa.gov.au.

Step 4 - Occupancy permit

An owner or occupier of a building cannot occupy or use the building unless there is an Occupancy Permit (OP) in effect for the building. When there is a change of use, for example from an office to a restaurant, there is a need to apply for an OP from the City of Vincent before the building can be occupied and used. 

Sometimes, the change of use can also lead to a change in the building classification under the Building Code of Australia (BCA). When that happens, the building may need to be upgraded to meet current building standards. 

An OP relates to the building, and not to the owner or occupier. In some instances, the building owner may obtain an OP only for the public or common use parts of the building and leave it to each tenant to obtain an OP for each tenancy in that building.

If you are unsure whether there is an existing OP in place or if you require an OP, please contact the Building Services team on (08) 9273 6000 or email mail@vincent.wa.gov.au.

Note: A copy of the OP must be displayed at or near the principal (main) entrance to the premises so that it is clearly visible to occupants and other people using the building. An infringement of $250 may be imposed for a failure to do so.

For more information, please visit the following web pages:

Occupancy Permit

Small Business Building Approvals

Building Inspection

When an Occupancy Permit application is received, a Building Surveyor from the City will organise a time to come out to the property to conduct a final inspection as part of the assessment process. 

For more information, please contact the Building Services team on (08) 9273 6000 or email mail@vincent.wa.gov.au.

This information is intended as a guide only. The City disclaims any liability for damages sustained by a person acting on the basis of this information.