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The Hills Shire Council

The Hills Shire Council · NSW

Food Truck Registration Fee
$410/yr
Per year — food truck registration
Coffee van / low-risk vehicle: $142/yr
Realistically from $740/yr all-in
Based on the P1/P2 high-risk tier ($410) shown above plus inspection $330 (30-minute minimum). IMPORTANT: mobile food vehicles are named directly in Council's P4 LOW-RISK line ($142), so many vendors should pay $142 + $330 = $472 all-in, not $740 — confirm which category Council assigns your vehicle before budgeting, the difference is $268/yr. Add $189 for the Section 68 approval if trading on public land.
Lead Time
10 days
PLI Required
$10M min
Renewal
Renews Jun
SOT Required
Yes
State
NSW
Fee Verified
2026-09

What you need to know

TWO APPROVAL PROCESSES: (1) Food business registration — required for all mobile food vehicles regardless of where they trade. Annual fee (risk-based). (2) Section 68 approval for trading on public land (roads, parks, reserves, sporting fields) — submit Application for Approval to Trade on Public Land via au.openforms.com/Form/427a7be5-e0db-4912-9f13-2db081e80655. Section 68 application must include: proposed locations, trading times, food description, method of operation, and $10M PLI certificate. 10 working day notification period to nearby businesses — allow minimum 15 business days total lead time. PRIVATE LAND: owner permission required; home food preparation requires Development Consent. Seating not permitted at mobile food outlets. Covers Castle Hill, Baulkham Hills, Norwest, Rouse Hill, Kellyville areas. Contact Environmental Health: 02 9843 0555 or council-publichealth@thehills.nsw.gov.au. FEE STRUCTURE (2026/27 adopted schedule, read by hand 2026-09-11): P4 Low Risk - all other shops selling food, temporary food stalls, MOBILE FOOD VEHICLES: $142. P3 Medium Risk: $249 (1-5 food handlers), $496 (6-50), $1,955 (over 50). P1 & P2 High Risk: $410 (1-5 food handlers), $838 (6-50), $3,665 (over 50). Section 68 approval to use a standing vehicle or any article for selling in a public place: $189 additional. Food premises inspection: $330/hour (minimum half hour). NSW Food Authority inspection or audit: $370/hour. Temporary food stall inspection: $69. Food Handlers Course: $35 incl GST. NOTE ON CLASSIFICATION: mobile food vehicles are named directly in the P4 low-risk $142 line, so many vendors pay $142 rather than the $410 high-risk rate - confirm which category Council assigns your vehicle before budgeting. FORMS: Mobile Food Vending Vehicle Registration and Application for Approval to Trade on Public Land are both lodged via au.openforms.com (links on the Council Food Businesses page). The Council Local Approvals Policy 2024-2028 governs public land trading.

Apply for your licence

Submit your application directly on the council website. Allow 10 days for approval.

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Public Liability Insurance

The Hills Shire Council requires a minimum of $10M public liability cover. Arrange this before you lodge your application — councils will not approve without a current certificate of currency.

Fees sourced from The Hills Shire Council published fee schedules. Verified: 2026-09. VERIFIED against The Hills Shire Plan Part 5 - Fees & Charges 2026-2027, read page by page 2026-09-11. This supersedes an earlier note here claiming Council had not published a 2026-27 schedule - it has. Figures below are the 2026-27 adopted amounts, up roughly 5 per cent on 2025-26: P4 low risk (all other shops selling food, temporary food stalls, MOBILE FOOD VEHICLES) $142 (was $135); P3 medium risk $249 (1-5 handlers) / $496 (6-50) / $1,955 (50+); P1 and P2 high risk $410 (1-5) / $838 (6-50) / $3,665 (50+); Section 68 approval to use a standing vehicle for selling in a public place $189 (was $180); food premises inspection $330/hr, minimum half hour (was $250); temporary food stall inspection $69 (was $65); Food Handlers Course $35 incl GST. NSW Food Authority inspection or audit stays $370/hr - that is a state rate and is not in this schedule. ONE THING TO CONFIRM: the PDF file’s own internal title is ‘DRAFT Fees & Charges 26-27.indd’ while its page header reads ‘Fees & Charges 2026-2027 | Hills Shire Plan 2025-2029’, so check it is the adopted version and not an exhibition draft before quoting it as governing. CLASSIFICATION POINT UNCHANGED: mobile food vehicles are named directly in the $142 P4 low-risk line, so many operators pay $142 rather than the $410 shown as the truck rate here - confirm your risk category before budgeting. Environmental Health 02 9843 0555 or council-publichealth@thehills.nsw.gov.au. Always confirm before applying.