This page is here to help give you a starting point to find out about some of the obligations that may apply to you if you decide to host Trips or Experiences on Airbnb. It’s for your information only and includes summaries of some of the rules that may apply to different sorts of activities, and contain links to official resources that you may find helpful.

Please understand that these information pages are not comprehensive, and are not legal advice. If you are unsure about how local laws or this information may apply to you or your Experience, we encourage you to check with official sources or seek legal advice.

Please note that we don’t update this information in real time, so you should confirm that the law has not changed recently.*

What are some of the basic principles?

Your guest’s health and safety should always come first. For example, some hosts tell us that they always make sure that their kitchen is super clean, that they only use fresh ingredients and tell their guests about the ingredients they use. They also ask their guests in advance about any food allergies they may have and religious or philosophical codes that the host needs to keep in mind when preparing a meal to share with them.

My experience will involve serving food to guests outside of a traditional restaurant, cafe, or food business. Are there any specific rules I need to follow?

Yes.The Regulations Governing General Hygiene Requirements for Food Premises And the Transport of Food 2012 apply.

Certificate of Acceptability

If you are responsible for or own a “food premises" you need to have a valid and current Certificate of Acceptability for those premises.

This requirement applies to any building, structure or stall (like for example caravans and vehicles) which is used or allowed to be used in connection with the handling of foodstuffs (including food, drinks and other substances intended for human consumption). Handling food includes making/preparing, serving, storing and transporting food, whether or not you do this in return for money.

In summary, if you are handling food in any facility or space for any reason other than in your private household for your own private use, you will need to obtain a Certificate of Acceptability.You can apply for a Certificate of Acceptability at the Environmental Health office closest to you.

It is an offence to handle or allow food to be handled on premises for which a valid Certificate of Acceptability has not been issued or is not in force.

Food safety

The Regulations Governing General Hygiene Requirements for Food Premises And the Transport of Food 2012 contain detailed provisions relating to issues of hygiene and food safety. They set standards and requirements that food premises need to meet (including in relation to facilities, food containers, the display, storage and temperature of food, protective clothing, the duties of a person in charge of food premises, the duties of a food handler, the handling of meat and the transportation of food). You can take a look at the information pages on the City of Cape Town websiteor contact the Environmental Health office closest to you for more information.

It is an offence to handle food in a way which does not meet the standards and requirements set out in the regulations.

Examples

Here are some examples of where these regulations will apply and where a Certificate of Acceptability will need to be obtained:

• I cook and serve meals to paying guests at my home.
• I hold an event at a temporary space / in my local community centre, at which I serve store-bought nibbles / finger foods and drinks to guests. I will be transporting the store-bought food and drinks to the venue and will then handle and serve these to guests.
• I take people on a cool visit of Cape Town and provide them with a packed lunch which I prepared at home.