Home Business

Can I Run a Business from Home?

The ability to work from home provides many social and economic benefits to our community while also creating challenges in preserving the integrity, character, and amenity of our residential areas. The planning framework allows for businesses to be operated where they are small in scale and do not impact the residential appearance of the property they are being operated from.

What type of business can I run from home?

The planning framework allows for any business, service, trade, or similar activity to be undertaken within a dwelling or land around a dwelling in most zones, as long the retail sale, display or hire of goods is not involved, subject to development approval. There are some other restrictions to ensure the scale of the business, service, trade, or similar activity does not compete with the residential use of the land, as provided below:

  • No changes to the residential appearance of the land;
  • The business, service, trade, or similar activity can only employ residents of the dwelling;
  • Adequate parking is provided;
  • The operation cannot result in a substantial increase to the amount of traffic in the vicinity;
  • The business, service, trade, or similar activity does not occupy more than 50m2/20m2 (depending on the zone); and
  • The business, service, trade, or similar activity does not entail the parking and garaging of a vehicle of more than 3.5t/1t tare weight (depending on the zone).

Do I need approval to work from home?

Working from home or running a business from home that does not entail any customers/clients attending the site, does not involve any advertising signs on the premises, and does not involve any external changes to the appearance of the dwelling does not require development approval.  All other forms of home based business do require development approval, and will be assessed in accordance with the Town Planning Scheme.

How do I lodge a Development Application?

The following documentation is required for an application:

  • Development Application form [link to development application]
  • Letter of support as per the Application for Development Approval Checklist to include the following:
    • Detail of proposed business
    • equipment and/ or commercial vehicle to be used
    • number of employees in addition to the business operator
    • operating days/times and number of customers
    • signage details including size, wording and colours
    • parking provided and traffic expected to be generated
  • Site plan and floor plan indicating location and dimensions of area to be used (including parking)

Please Note:

Building Requirements: If the accumulative floor area of the proposed business or occupation exceeds 10% of the total floor space of the building, a building permit will be required. Please contact the Building Services for further information.  Download a Building Application form here.

For further information, please contact Building Services on 9526 1111