Business permits, approvals & tenders
Some businesses need approval to operate including food and drink, markets, stalls and events. Permits are needed for busking, sex premises, filming and photography, family day care centres and skin penetration businesses.

Flexible regulations for businesses extended
The NSW Government has extended the date of temporary changes to the planning system until 31 March 2022.
In March 2020 the government amended the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act to include a new regulation allowing for a range of new ministerial orders in response to the pandemic.
The changes allow the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces to make an order for development to be carried out without the normal planning approval to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Since then, the NSW Government has issued ministerial orders under the act including:
- extending retail trading, delivery and waste removal hours
- allowing home businesses to operate 24 hours a day
- providing more flexible conditions for takeaway food and beverage facilities, food trucks and dark kitchens
- allowing construction sites to operate the same hours on weekdays, weekends and public holidays
- permitting temporary pop-up cycleways within the City of Sydney local area
- allowing temporary vehicle sanitisation stations for the professional cleaning of taxis, ride share and community transport vehicles.
For full details visit the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment website.
Food and drink businesses
Business permits, approvals & tenders
Get approval for a food businessBusiness permits, approvals & tenders
Apply for outdoor dining approvalBusiness permits, approvals & tenders
Apply to operate a home-based food business
Business permits, approvals & tenders
Opening a small bar
Markets, stalls and events
Business permits, approvals & tenders
Book a City banner to promote your eventBusiness permits, approvals & tenders
Register an event involving food and drink
Business management
Business permits, approvals & tenders
Declare business ownership changesFood premises, beauty salons and hairdressers, and other businesses whose activities are regulated by public health laws must notify us when they change hands.Business permits, approvals & tenders
Modify the plan of management for your businessReflect how you propose to manage the venue.

Business support & funding
Late night trading for live music and performance venues
Other permits and applications
Business permits, approvals & tenders
Set up a family day care centreBusiness permits, approvals & tenders
Register your skin penetration business or eventBusiness permits, approvals & tenders
Lodge a development application for sex premises