Trading in Public Places

What is a Commercial Hire Site?

Commercial Hire Sites are locations that have been identified by the City as suitable for use by commercial operators to provide temporary, pop-up style leisure and active tourism activities.  Examples of such activities that may be undertaken at a CHS include but are not limited to:

• Ticketing booths out of a marquee or trailer; 
• The hiring of recreational equipment such as bicycles, beach umbrellas, kayaks, stand up paddle boards; and
• The operation of designated tours, classes or guided activities.

Commercial Hire Site trading permits are duly issued under the - City Of Busselton Local Government Property Local Law 2010.

Under the conditions of a CHS trading permit, CHS activities must comply as follows:

• Be of a temporary and non-exclusive nature;
• Equipment cannot be left on-site when the CHS is not in use;
• All equipment must be removed from City property at the end of each trading day; and
• Access to services such as Power and Water are NOT available at CHS.

How do I apply to trade at a Commercial Hire Site?

The City of Busselton is currently seeking Expressions of Interest (EoI) from operators to take up trading opportunities (Non-Food) at designated locations across the City of Busselton by means of a Commercial Hire Site trading permit.

EoI submissions require applicants to complete the online Expressions of Interest - Commercial Hire Site Permits provided at the City of Busselton Your Say website. 

Your Say Busselton website

There are currently eight (8) Vacant sites available. These sites have been identified where non-exclusive use of the location can be sustainably managed with regard to competing uses.

Commercial Hire Site Location Map

The term of a permit for CHS Permit at any location may be for a period up to two (2) years. 

Applications close at 4:00pm on Thursday 29 May 2025.  

Please Note:  Requests for longer term tenure with more permanent infrastructure cannot be considered as part of this EoI process.

Applications for Food Vendor Permits are subject to a separate EOI, details below under Mobile Food Vendors.

Commercial Activity Permit

If you would like to use City owned or managed land such as parks and reserves that are not a Commercial Hire Site for your commercial business offering, please complete the Commercial Activity Permit Application. 

To apply for a commercial activity permit:

• you must be able to demonstrate why an available Commercial Hire Site (CHS) cannot be used; and
• fees are based on the location that you require and frequency of trading as listed in the City’s Adopted Fees and Charges.  

I want to trade at fixed locations - Mobile Food Vendor Fixed Location Trading Applications

Several fixed trading locations have been identified across the City, suitable for mobile food vendors.

Permits to trade in these fixed locations are issued by the City of Busselton via an Expression of Interest (EOI) process, which is held every 2 years.

The City is currently seeking Expression of Interest for Mobile Food Traders registered under the Food Act 2008, for permits at five (5) vacant fixed locations, commencing August 2025 to July 2027.

There are currently five (5) vacant fixed trading locations available:

1. Freycinet Drive Car Park, Geographe (Zone 2)
2. Busselton Volunteer Marine Rescue Car Park, Busselton Foreshore (Zone 2)
3. King Street Car Park, Busselton (Zone 1A)
4. Abbey Beach Boat Ramp, Abbey (Zone 2)
5. Dunsborough Skate Park car park (Zone 2A)

EOI submissions require applicants to complete the online Expressions of Interest - Mobile Food Vendor - Fixed Location Trading Permits provided at the City of Busselton 'Your Say' website.

Expression of Interest - Mobile Food Vendor - Fixed Location Trading Permits

Applications close at 4:00pm on Thursday 12 June 2025.

I want to trade on the go - Itinerant Food Vendor Trading Permit Applications 

Itinerant Traders travel from place to place through streets of the district, looking for customers and stopping temporarily only to serve customers, then move on.

A permit to trade as an Itinerant Food Vendor is granted by an Expression of Interest Process every 2 years.

The City is currently seeking Expressions of Interest for Itinerant Food Vendors registered under the Food Act 2008, for permits provided at the City of Busselton 'Your Say' website.

Expression of Interest- Itinerant Food Vendor Trading Permits

Applications close at 4:00pm on Thursday 12 June 2025

I want to trade at varied locations - Itinerant Varied Location Permit 

This is called Itinerant Varied Locations. A permit can be applied for, to sell to the public at varied private locations e.g. mobile coffee runs. You must have written permission from each property owner you wish to trade at prior to submitting your application.

To apply, submit an Application for Trading Permit - Itinerant Varied Locations found below, identifying all the property locations you wish to trade at.

Application for Trading Permit - Itinerant Varied Locations

What does it cost?

Please refer to the below costs.

Marine Berthing Permit

The City has two purpose built marine berthing platforms at the iconic Busselton Jetty - view the map here. The marine berthing platforms allow for marine tourism vessels (boats and tenders) to pick up and disembark passengers. The western platform is 15m in length, the eastern platform is 35m in length. Both have a displacement limit of 50T and can accommodate vessels up to a maximum draft of 2 metres. If you would like to use this platform, please view the information below and compete the attached application form.

Requirements

• Safety management plan
• Risk management plan
• Vessel details
• Public liability insurance and workers compensation

Note:  You must provide a minimum of 48 hours notice for staff to process your application.  Applications received with less than 48 hours notice, may be refused.

Note: The City of Busselton reserves the right to refuse any application for any reason.

Fees and charges available in the City of Busselton Adopted Schedule of Fees and charges 2024/25 Financial Year fees determined based on the permit period and length of the vessel.