Getting Council Approval for a new Cafe, Restaurant or Bar

Opening a new Cafe, Restaurant or Bar is an exciting business proposition. One of the first steps in the process is usually submitting a DA for Council approval. The following is an overview of how to get Council approval for a new Cafe, Restaurant or Bar.

Steps for Council approval – New Cafe, Restaurant or Bar

The first step is contacting your local council to check if development consent is required. Different Councils offer different forms of consultation. Camden Council’s Pre DA Advice outlines three options (which other Councils may also offer). During discussions with Council, ask about complying development, zoning certificates and details of the DA.

Exempt or complying development – Minor changes to existing Cafe, Restaurant or Bar

If your development or changes are minor, Council may consider these to be ‘exempt’ or ‘complying’ development. This means a DA is not required. However, you should consider controls and restrictions.

Zoning Certificate (or Section 149 Planning Certificate)

The Zoning Certificate stipulates any controls, requirements and restrictions that may impact on how the property is used (e.g. Hours of operation).

Development Application (DA) for a new Cafe, Restaurant or Bar

If you would like to build, alter, demolish or change the use of a property, then you will most likely need to submit a DA. Typically, a DA includes the following:

A completed DA form
Owner’s consent
Statement of Environmental Effects
Estimated cost of works
Building and site plan (prepared by a professional draftsman/architect)
Drawings
Expert reports relevant to the DA (e.g. Waste Management, Heritage impact, Acoustic, Traffic)

The City of Sydney’s Food Business Development Applications form provides excellent information on things to think about prior to submitting a DA. Most Councils will have similar requirements. The City of Canterbury Bankstown DA Checklist is also a good resource.

Depending on the location, you may be required to provide other permits as part of your DA.

Other Permits

Before submitting your DA, speak to Council about whether you need to supply other permits with your DA. These may include an Application to Make Changes to a Heritage Listed Place, or an Application to Operate Business on Reserved Land.

Also ask Council about public notification of your DA.

Public Notification

Many Councils require you to provide notification of your DA. This may involve displaying a site notice and notifying surrounding building occupants and businesses. Your local Council can provide specific information on your notification obligations.

Elements of your DA

The type of information typically required for a DA for a hospitality-type venue includes the following:

Type of Business
Licensed Premises (BYO, Licensed, or Licensed BYO)
Hours of Operation
Premises Capacity
Outdoor dining
Disability access
Toilet facilities
Waste Disposal and Waste Management Plan
Food storage
Smoke free eating areas.

A Builder, Architect and other specialist consultants can provide the right documentation in the correct format for your DA.

Expert plans can assist your DA and long-term profitability

To obtain Council approval, all DAs will need professionally prepared plans. As well as working with your Builder, Draftsman or Architect, if your budget permits, it may be worthwhile engaging the services of a Hospitality Design Consultant.

A Hospitality Design Consultant can assist with the floor plan, and workflow areas for your kitchen and front of house. They will calculate the maximum seating capacity of your Cafe, Restaurant or Bar, taking into account the following:

Size of area
Workflow areas – front of house and back of house.
Table type/size/diameter – impacts on number of customers, seated or standing configurations, plate sizes, and menu and plating options
Table height – impacts the brands and styles you may choose and your seated or standing configurations
Seat height – should correlate to the table height

These calculations will impact on your overall styling as well as the menu design, pricing, and staffing ratios.

Specialist consultants may also design a menu suited to your brand, vision, and target market while costing every element and detail to ensure what you serve is profitable.

Johnson Hospitality have a long-standing and trusted relationship with Danny Russo of Russolini. Danny and his team are experts in delivering unique and innovative food service projects.

Other considerations

Council approval of a DA for a bar or food business will require you to obtain other permits/registrations/certificates before you commence works or business operations. These may include:

Construction Certificate
Occupation Certificate
Advertising signage approval (street awnings and footpath ‘A’ frames)
Fire Safety Certificate
Food Safety Regulations & Compliance
Registration with the NSW Food Authority
Liquor Licence and Responsible Service of Alcohol training for staff.

Glossary of DA terminology

Applying for a DA the fist time can be a complex process and at times confusing. Camden Council’s Glossary of DA terminology may be useful. Most of these terms would be used by Councils in New South Wales.

Personalised service starts here

Once your DA is approved, Johnson Hospitality Supplies can assist you with choosing everything from crockery, cutlery and glassware to storage, and chemicals and janitorial items. We can recommend options that provide durability and functionality, but also aesthetic appeal.

Call us on (02) 9558 5199 send us an email via sales@johnsonhospitality.com.au or complete our online form to ask a question or request a quote. We look forward to helping your business thrive.

Disclaimer: The contents of this blog are meant to be general information only and not professional advice.

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New Cafe, Restaurant or Bar – Council approval