Several business-related items controlled by Environmental Health are grouped here for your convenience.
Busking
If you intend to busk or solicit money for street entertainment in public places in the Invercargill City or Bluff areas, you need permission from the Council’s Environmental Health Division. The Council does not charge a licence fee for busking or street entertainment but you will be asked to provide your details and details of your proposed activity. It is also important that you seek permission from the shop or business owners where you intend to be located: this is a matter of both courtesy and common sense.
Public places are for everyone and buskers and street entertainers must not create a nuisance: do not litter, do not use amplifiers, speakers, loud hailers or other noisy equipment (permission is required from the Council if you intend to use any of this type of equipment),
do not obstruct footpaths or pedestrian areas and avoid shop entrances (allow at least 2m space on all footpaths), do not distribute or sell offensive or obscene material – and your entertaining or entertainment equipment must not produce any odours or smells.
Most complaints about buskers are from businesses and focus on noise, blocking window displays or congestion of their entrance ways. Similarly, prolonged playing in any one area tends to give rise to complaint: you might like to try various sites or rotate sites during the day. If you cause a problem while busking the Council staff or Police might simply require you to move on, however, legal action including might be considered.
Camping grounds
The Environmental Health Division inspects and registers camping grounds to ensure that the minimum standards of health are maintained and that the business and its staff comply with the relevant legislation. Registered camping grounds are inspected on an annual basis and/or when an investigation is required, for example a complaint from the public or local health authorities.
Funeral homes
If a funeral home contains a mortuary where bodies are embalmed, then the premises must be licensed under the Health (Burial) Regulations 1946. The Environmental Health Division inspects and registers funeral homes to ensure that the minimum standards of health are maintained and that the business and its staff comply with the relevant legislation. Registered funeral homes are inspected on an annual basis and/or when an investigation is required i.e. complaint from the public or local health authorities.
Hairdressers
The Council is responsible for ensuring that hairdressing premises in the Invercargill area meet and comply with the Health (Hairdressers) Regulations Act 1980 and any other legislation i.e. toilet requirements, structural and fire safety under the Building Act. See related fees and charges.
Mobile traders or shops
A hawker is a person selling goods door-to-door. A mobile or travelling shop is a business which sells goods from a vehicle on the road. Stands and stalls are venues from which goods are sold – these include mobile shops, movable stands, road vehicles and fishing vessels, etc. In accordance with the Mobile Trading Bylaw 1983 all mobile or travelling shops, hawkers, stands and stalls are required to obtain a licence from the Council to trade. Applications are available from the Council’s Invercargill and Bluff offices. Note: until your application has been approved you or your business may not operate.
