Register a food business

It is your legal responsibility to make sure you produce food safely when starting your food business. Find advice on how to do this at the Food Standards Agency (FSA) website.

If you sell food to the public

If you store, prepare or sell food to the public you need to register your business with us free of charge. This includes:

cafes
restaurants
takeaways
food stalls
hotels
if you sell food from home or through social media

You must register at least 28 days before starting any food operations. If you're already trading, you need to register as soon as possible or you could be prosecuted.

Some of the information you've given will be available to the public including address, type of business and telephone number once you are registered.

Processing your registration

We will let know by email when we have received your request. Your business will be added to our food register within 30 days.

A food inspection will then take place. You can continue running your food business while waiting for the inspection appointment.

All food you sell or supply must meet strict legal standards. Find more about the legal standards.

Apply in person

If you want help with completing the registration forms, our business support officers can register your food business with you. This service costs £60 to use.

Make an appointment by emailing food.safety@leeds.gov.uk.

Tell us about any changes such as name, address, ownership or closure of business. Choose the 'how to change' option on the registration form.

If you sell animal products to businesses

You will need approval from us before you make, sell, prepare or handle food made from animal origin to sell to other businesses. This includes meat, dairy, egg, shellfish or other animal products. Check to see if your business needs approval.

Approval is free of charge and you will not need to register as well.

There are strict standards of hygiene, structure and procedures that you need to meet before you can get approval.

If you need approval, contact us to talk about how you can meet the standards by emailing food.safety@leeds.gov.uk.

If you operate a food business without approval, you could get a fine or even go to prison.

Other licences you might need

Planning permission

Some food establishments may need planning permission to operate. This depends on the permitted use or if a food business is based in a residential property. If you need to make any alterations, such as installing a kitchen extraction system, you will need to contact planning.

Street and mobile traders

If you have a temporary food business that you can operate from the roadside, grass verge, pedestrian walkways or public highways, then you may also need a Street Traders Licence. For more information contact Leeds Markets.

Mobile traders must register the unit where it is kept overnight. This could be different from the registered company or home address.

Selling hot food after 11pm

Food businesses that provide hot food after 11pm may need a late night refreshment licence. Contact business licensing for more information on alcohol and entertainment licences.

Home food business

To register your food business, you must have suitable training on food safety and hygiene. We recommend Level 2 Food Hygiene training.

You will also need a Food Safety Management System.

You should also:

check if you need insurance, permission from your mortgage provider or landlord and planning permission
make sure children and pets are not near where you prepare food
not wash laundry at the same time as making or preparing food
have a safe food preparation area with nothing that could fall into food such as plants or noticeboard pins
have separate storage of equipment, utensils and ingredients with a separate shelf in your fridge for high risk items, such as meat
have clean surfaces using anti-bacterial spray before preparing food
be aware of allergens and how to store these at home so they don't contaminate any other food you prepare
transport food hygienically to any venues and store high risk foods in cool boxes or insulated containers
avoid preparing food for 48 hours after you have recovered from diarrhoea or vomiting

Contact us

Email

food.safety@leeds.gov.uk

New website