A free pre-inspection self-check covering what council environmental health officers commonly examine, temperature, cleaning, hygiene, pests, records and training. Free PDF.
A Council Inspection Checklist is a free tool that generates a readiness checklist you run through before a council environmental health officer visits. It focuses on what officers commonly examine, such as temperature control, cleaning, hand-washing, pest management, food storage and records, so you can find and fix gaps in advance. Its purpose is to help you walk into an inspection prepared rather than hoping for the best. Unlike a broad self-audit, it is framed specifically around inspection-readiness and the things most likely to be checked on the day. You can download the checklist as a free PDF to work through your venue before the officer arrives. When to use it: When you know or expect a council inspection is coming up.. As a final walk-through the day before an audit or expected visit.. When you have recently opened and want to be ready for your first inspection.. After making changes to your menu, layout or team, to confirm you are still inspection-ready.. When briefing staff on what an environmental health officer will look for.. How to use it: Enter your business type and the areas you want the readiness check to cover. Download the free PDF and walk through your venue against each item. Confirm temperatures, cleaning, hygiene, pest control, storage and records are all in order. Note any gaps and fix them before the inspection, assigning a responsible person. Do a final re-check of the items you fixed so nothing is outstanding on the day. What does a council food inspection check? An environmental health officer typically checks temperature control of potentially hazardous food, cleaning and sanitising, hand-washing facilities and hygiene, pest management, food storage and separation, structure and maintenance, and your records. This checklist mirrors those areas so you can prepare for each before the visit. How do I prepare for a council inspection? Walk through your venue as an officer would, checking fridges are at or below 5C, hot food is at or above 60C, surfaces are clean, hand basins are stocked, there is no pest evidence, and your temperature and cleaning records are up to date. Fix any gaps before the visit. Do councils give notice before an inspection? It varies. Many routine inspections are unannounced, while some are arranged in advance, and follow-up or complaint-driven visits can happen at any time. Because you may not get notice, the safest approach is to stay inspection-ready every day rather than only preparing when a visit is expected. What are the most common inspection failures? Common problems include potentially hazardous food in the temperature danger zone of 5C to 60C, inadequate cleaning, poor or unstocked hand-washing facilities, cross-contamination between raw and ready-to-eat food, missing temperature or cleaning records, and signs of pests. This checklist targets each of these so you can address them first. What records will the officer want to see? Officers commonly ask for temperature logs, cleaning schedules, your food safety plan or program, corrective action records and evidence of Food Safety Supervisor and staff training. Having these current and easy to find makes the inspection go smoothly and shows you manage food safety systematically. How is this different from a self-audit checklist? A self-audit is a broad internal review of your whole system, often done monthly. This checklist is framed specifically for inspection-readiness, focusing on the things an officer is most likely to examine on the day, so you use it just before an expected visit to catch last-minute gaps.
How to use the Council Inspection Checklist
Enter your business type and the areas you want the readiness check to cover.
Download the free PDF and walk through your venue against each item.
Confirm temperatures, cleaning, hygiene, pest control, storage and records are all in order.
Note any gaps and fix them before the inspection, assigning a responsible person.
Do a final re-check of the items you fixed so nothing is outstanding on the day.
Frequently asked questions
What does a council food inspection check?
An environmental health officer typically checks temperature control of potentially hazardous food, cleaning and sanitising, hand-washing facilities and hygiene, pest management, food storage and separation, structure and maintenance, and your records. This checklist mirrors those areas so you can prepare for each before the visit.
How do I prepare for a council inspection?
Walk through your venue as an officer would, checking fridges are at or below 5C, hot food is at or above 60C, surfaces are clean, hand basins are stocked, there is no pest evidence, and your temperature and cleaning records are up to date. Fix any gaps before the visit.
Do councils give notice before an inspection?
It varies. Many routine inspections are unannounced, while some are arranged in advance, and follow-up or complaint-driven visits can happen at any time. Because you may not get notice, the safest approach is to stay inspection-ready every day rather than only preparing when a visit is expected.
What are the most common inspection failures?
Common problems include potentially hazardous food in the temperature danger zone of 5C to 60C, inadequate cleaning, poor or unstocked hand-washing facilities, cross-contamination between raw and ready-to-eat food, missing temperature or cleaning records, and signs of pests. This checklist targets each of these so you can address them first.
What records will the officer want to see?
Officers commonly ask for temperature logs, cleaning schedules, your food safety plan or program, corrective action records and evidence of Food Safety Supervisor and staff training. Having these current and easy to find makes the inspection go smoothly and shows you manage food safety systematically.
How is this different from a self-audit checklist?
A self-audit is a broad internal review of your whole system, often done monthly. This checklist is framed specifically for inspection-readiness, focusing on the things an officer is most likely to examine on the day, so you use it just before an expected visit to catch last-minute gaps.