A boarding house is a place of shared accommodation that provides accommodation to a boarder for a fee. Local councils have the primary role in approving new boarding houses and inspecting and enforcing health, building and safety requirements in existing boarding houses.
Boarding houses must have the required development consent under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 and/or a previous approval under the Local Government Act 1993.
All boarding houses must be operated in accordance with the Boarding Houses Act 2012, Boarding Houses Regulation 2013 and the Local Government (General) Regulation 2005. Council's Environmental Health and Compliance Officers carry out inspections of registered boarding houses on an annual basis, to ensure that the aforementioned legislative requirements are being complied with. A fee is charged for this inspection in accordance with Council's fees and charges schedule.
All boarding houses operating within Canterbury-Bankstown must register their details with Council. To register a new boarding house or to notify of any changes, please complete a registration form and return to Council.
More information
You can read more about Boarding Houses and our inspections on the NSW Government website.
For further information on;
Legionnaires Disease is an infection of the lungs caused by breathing in Legionella bacteria. While Legionella bacteria are naturally present at low levels in the environment, they have the ability to grow rapidly to dangerous levels in poorly managed cooling towers (used to cool large buildings) and warm water systems (used to provide instantaneous warm water).
Inspections
There are more than 200 registered cooling towers and warm water systems operating within Canterbury-Bankstown. Council's Environmental Health Officers undertake inspections of cooling towers to ensure compliance with public health legislation and to reduce potential public health risks associated with Legionnaires Disease.
All cooling towers and warm water systems must be designed, constructed and operated in accordance with the following requirements:
- Public Health Act 2010
- Public Health Regulation 2012; AS/NZS 3666.1:2011; AS/NZS 3666.2:2011; and AS/NZS 3666.3:2011
Inspections of cooling towers are carried out by Council's Environmental Health Officers on an annual basis to ensure they comply with the abovementioned requirements. A fee is charged for this inspection in accordance with Council's fees and charges schedule.
Whilst carrying out inspections, Council's Environmental Health Officers ensure that:
- The cooling tower is maintained and in a clean condition
- Adequate disinfection processes are in place
- Record keeping procedures and requirements are being maintained
Failure to comply with these requirements can result in penalty infringement notices (on-the-spot fines) or Council's Environmental Health Officers can order a cooling tower system to be shut down, if it poses an immediate public health risk.
Building owners and managers are required to register their cooling towers and warm water systems with Council. To register a new cooling tower or warm water system or to notify of any changes, please complete a registration form and return to Council.
More information
NSW Health has developed a range of resources to assist cooling tower owners and operators in complying with public health requirements.
Residents with pools in the Canterbury-Bankstown area must ensure their pools are safe and that the water is of the correct quality. This includes ensuring that safety fencing and gates are installed and meet the requirements of the NSW Swimming Pool Act.
More information
Council's Environmental Health Officers undertake inspections of hairdressers and barbers, beauty therapists and tattooists to ensure these businesses meet health and hygiene standards. Businesses that carry out skin penetration procedures such as body piercing, skin needling, microdermabrasion, tattooing and waxing must follow strict infection control procedures to minimise the transmission of disease, such as skin infections, HIV and Hepatitis B and C.
Council regulates hairdressers and barbers under the Local Government Act 1993 and skin penetration premises under the Public Health Act 2010. Skin penetration premises must also meet the requirements of the Public Health Regulation 2012, associated Australian Standards and NSW Health guidelines.
Council conducts a minimum of one inspection per annum of all beauty therapists, hairdressers/barbers and tattooists operating within Canterbury-Bankstown to ensure compliance with public health requirements. A fee is charged for this inspection in accordance with Council's fees and charges schedule.
Whilst carrying out inspections, Council's Environmental Health Officers focus on a wide range of issues including:
- Cleanliness of the premises
- Hygiene practices
- Construction and maintenance of the premises
Council has an educational and regulatory role in enforcing public health legislation. Council's Environmental Health Officers have a number of options when dealing with breaches of public health legislation including verbal warnings, closure of the business or issuing penalty infringement notices (on-the-spot fines).
All beauty therapists, hairdressers, barbers and tattooists operating within the Canterbury-Bankstown LGA must register their details with Council. To register a new business or to notify of any changes to business details for existing registered businesses, please complete a registration form and return to Council.
More information
NSW Health has developed a range of resources to assist hairdressers/barbers, beauticians and tattooists in maintaining public health and hygiene standards.
To further assist businesses, Council's Environmental Health Officers conducts free training courses in various languages.
For more information, contact Council's Environmental Health and Compliance Unit on 9707 9000.
There are around 1,500 food businesses operating within our City. Types of food businesses include:
- Cafes and restaurants
- Supermarkets and convenience stores
- Delicatessens
- Takeaway outlets
- Mobile food vendors
- Temporary food stalls
- Home-based food businesses
- Child care centres and school canteens.
Council's Environmental Health Officers undertake inspections of all food premises to ensure compliance with food safety requirements and to minimise the likelihood of foodborne illness within the community.
All food premises must be designed, constructed and operated in accordance with the following requirements:
- NSW Food Act 2003
- NSW Food Regulation 2015; Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) Food Standards Code
- Australian Standard 4674-2004
Council conducts a minimum of one inspection per annum of all food premises operating within the LGA to ensure compliance with food safety requirements. A fee is charged for this inspection in accordance with Council's fees and charges schedule.
All food businesses operating within the City of Canterbury Bankstown must register their details with Council. To register a new food business or to notify of any changes, please complete a registration form and return to Council.
Whilst carrying out inspections, Council's Environmental Health Officers focus on a wide range of issues including:
- Cleanliness of the premises
- Temperature control
- Hygiene and food handling practices
- Pest control
- Construction and maintenance of the premises
Council has an educational and regulatory role in enforcing food safety legislation. Council's Environmental Health Officers have a number of options when dealing with breaches of food safety legislation including verbal warnings, closure of the business, issuing penalty infringements (on-the-spot fines) or legal proceedings.
The Name and Shame Register published by the NSW Food Authority details all penalty infringements and legal proceedings that have been issued by Councils.
Council participates in the 'Scores on Doors' hygiene and food safety program. The program enables consumers to make an informed choice about where to dine in Canterbury-Bankstown.
During routine food inspections, Council's Environmental Health Officers assess food businesses such as restaurants, cafes, bakeries and takeaways against a food safety checklist and assign a star rating reflecting their performance. Businesses achieving a five star (excellent), four star (very good) or three star (good) hygiene and food safety rating are awarded a certificate that should be displayed in a prominent position, usually the front window or door.
A certificate of business notification
No - Council does not have a 'certificate of business notification', as this is no longer required by the NSW Food Authority.
~ If you have been inspected by Council, the paperwork we provide you ie an inspection report, demonstrates that your business is registered with Council.
Health Inspection Certificate (eg Scores on Doors)
Council issues 'Scores of Doors' certificates based on the performance of a food business during their health inspection.
~ If the business is fully compliant, or only has minor breaches, you will receive a certificate.
~ If the business has a number of breaches, or critical food safety issues, the business will not receive a certificate.
* Please note: Scores on Doors certificates are only issued for the 'primary inspection', ie the first unannounced inspection.
If Council is required to reinspect your business due to breaches of the food legislation, a certificate will not be issued following this reinspection.
Health Inspection Report/Assessment
Yes – Council provides a health inspection report following our inspection of your business.
If you have lost your original, you may contact council@cbcity.nsw.gov.au to request a copy.
You must provide the following details with your request, or your request will not be processed:
- Your Name (& company name, if applicable)
- ABN
- Shop Name
- Business Address
- Contact Phone Number
If you are a new owner of a business, you must ensure you have registered your details with Council. This can be done by completing and returning the registration form, which is available on our Enforcement and Compliance forms page.
The NSW Food Authority has developed a range of food safety resources to assist in educating food businesses and consumers