Setting up a New Business
There are several ways you can register a commercial business in the Commercial Environment Section:
Food Businesses
Registration of premises used for a food business (including market stalls, delivery vehicles and other moveable structures) is required by law. Registration will allow us to keep an up-to date list of all those premises in the city so we can visit them when we need to. The frequency of the visits will depend on the type of business.
Who needs to register?
If you run a food business for more than 5 days in any 5 consecutive weeks, you must tell (or arrange for someone else to tell) us about any premises you use for storing, selling, distributing or preparing food. Food premises includes restaurants, hotels, cafes, shops, supermarkets, staff canteens, kitchens in offices, warehouses, guest houses, delivery vehicles, buffets cars on trains, market and other stalls, hot dog and ice cream vans etc.
If you use vehicles for you food business in connection with permanent premises such as a shop or warehouse you only need to tell the us how many vehicles you have. You do not need to register each vehicle separately. If you have one or more vehicles but no permanent premises, you must tell us where they are normally kept.
Anyone starting a new food business must register with us at least 28 days before doing so.
The majority of premises will have to be registered. However, certain premises are exempt from registration e.g. Some which are already registered for food law purposes, certain agricultural premises, motor cars, tents and marquees (but not stalls), some domestic premises and some village halls. You should contact us if you think you might be exempt.
How do I register?
By filling in the registration form available to download below. Registration cannot be refused and there is no charge. The registration form must be signed and sent to Westminster City Council's
Food Team. If the form is sent to the wrong address your application will not take effect until it is received at the proper place. If you use premises in more than one local authority area, you must register with each authority separately.
Register a food business
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Non-food business (offices, retail, hotels, and other non food businesses)
If you are opening a non-food business within the City Council and intent to employ anyone to work in an office or shop, you are required to notify us. This is a legal requirement under
The Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act 1963. Examples of such businesses include the following:
- Buildings used for ‘office purposes’ (e.g. administration, hospitals, travel agencies, betting offices, etc.)
- Retail shops
- Wholesale premises or warehouse
- Fuel storage premises
How do I register?
By filing in the registration form available to download below. Alternatively you can contact the
Health & Safety Team to request a copy post. Registration forms must be sent the Health and Safety Team.
Register a non-food business
Cooling Tower Notifications
The Notification of
Cooling Towers and Evaporative Condensers Regulations 1992 require all premises where cooling towers and evaporative condensers are located to register with the local authority.
Cooling towers and evaporative condensers have been linked to outbreaks of Legionnaire’s disease, a serious bacterial infection that causes a pneumonia like illness, which may be fatal particularly in more susceptible persons, such as the young, elderly and chronically ill.
This enables the enforcing authorities to identify potential sources of infection and to take action to ensure that duty holders are controlling the risk at their premises.
If you have a cooling tower or evaporative condenser that has not been registered, or if you have just taken over responsibility for a premises that has this equipment please click on this link, which can be emailed or posted to us.
Register a Cooling Tower
Obtaining a trading licence (Night club, late night licence, special treatments)
For information on how to apply for a licence visit
Licensing in Westminster
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