The City has four categories of home-based businesses.
Home Office
Home Office means a dwelling used by an occupier of the dwelling to carry out a home occupation if the carrying out of the occupation:
- is solely within the dwelling; and
- does not entail clients or customers travelling to and from the dwelling; and
- does not involve the display of a sign on the premises; and
- does not require any change to the external appearance of the dwelling.
Planning Approval
Planning approval is not required for a Home Office, however, a letter of compliance for your business can be obtained using our online form. Simply fill in your details, and if everything complies with the Home Office criteria, you will receive your compliance letter straight away via email. Please note that fees do apply in accordance with the City's Planning Fee Schedule.
Home Occupation
Home Occupation means a dwelling or land around a dwelling used by an occupier of the dwelling to carry out an occupation if the carrying out of the occupation:
- does not involve employing a person who is not a member of the occupier’s household; and
- will not cause injury to or adversely affect the amenity of the neighbourhood; and
- does not occupy an area greater than 20 m²; and
- does not involve the display on the premises of a sign with an area exceeding 0.2 m²; and
- does not involve the retail sale, display or hire of any goods unless the sale, display or hire is done only by means of the Internet; and
- does not —
- require a greater number of parking spaces than normally required for a single dwelling; or
- result in an increase in traffic volume in the neighbourhood; and
- does not involve the presence, use or calling of a vehicle of more than 4.5 tonnes tare weight; and
- does not include provision for the fuelling, repair or maintenance of motor vehicles; and
- does not involve the use of an essential service that is greater than the use normally required in the zone in which the dwelling is located.
Planning Approval
Planning approval is not required for a Home Occupation, however, a letter of compliance for your business can be obtained using our online form. Simply fill in your details and if everything complies with the Home Occupation criteria, you will receive your compliance letter straight away via email. Please note that fees do apply in accordance with the City's Planning Fee Schedule.
Health Approval
Health approval is required for all home-based food, hair and beauty businesses.
Food
If you prepare, pack, store, handle, serve or supply food from a residential premises for sale or provided as part of a service to the public, the City has an Information Sheet which outlines the requirements that your premises must meet.
In order to obtain approval for a home-based food business, you need to complete and submit a Notification and Registration Form - Food Act 2008 (please note, fees may apply depending on your application). This application may also be lodged online via the lodgement links section near the bottom of this page. If you intend to operate a mobile food business you will also need to complete a Trading in Public Places Application Form.
Skin Penetration
If your home business involves any form of hair dressing or skin penetration (e.g. tattooing, ear piercing) you need to complete and submit a Hair Dressing and Skin Penetration Notification Form.
View some useful information sheets regarding these businesses.
Home Business
Home Business means a dwelling or land around a dwelling used by an occupier of the dwelling to carry out a business, service or profession if the carrying out of the business, service or profession -
- does not involve employing more than 2 people who are not members of the occupier’s household; and
- will not cause injury to or adversely affect the amenity of the neighbourhood; and
- does not occupy an area greater than 50 m²; and
- does not involve the retail sale, display or hire of any goods unless the sale, display or hire is done only by means of the Internet; and
- does not result in traffic difficulties as a result of the inadequacy of parking or an increase in traffic volume in the neighbourhood; and
- does not involve the presence, use or calling of a vehicle of more than 4.5 tonnes tare weight; and
- does not involve the use of an essential service that is greater than the use normally required in the zone in which the dwelling is located.
Planning Approval
Planning approval is always required. Our checklist outlines the documentation required to obtain planning approval, which can be lodged via our online form. Please note that fees do apply in accordance with the City's Planning Fee Schedule.
Health Approval
Health approval is required for all home-based food, hair and beauty businesses.
Food
If you prepare, pack, store, handle, serve or supply food from a residential premises for sale or provided as part of a service to the public, the City has an Information Sheet which outlines the requirements that your premises must meet. In order to obtain approval for a home-based food business, you need to complete and submit Notification and Registration Form - Food Act 2008 (please note, fees may apply depending on your application). This application may also be lodged online via the lodgement links section near the bottom of this page.
If you intend to operate a mobile food business you will also need to complete a Trading in Public Places Application Form.
Skin Penetration
If your home business involves any form of skin penetration (e.g. tattooing, ear piercing) you need to complete and submit a Skin Penetration Notification Form.
View some useful information sheets regarding these businesses.
Rural Home Business
Rural Home Business means a dwelling or land around a dwelling used by an occupier of the dwelling to carry out a business, service or occupation if the carrying out of the business, service or occupation -
- does not involve employing more than 2 people who are not members of the occupier’s household; and
- will not cause injury to or adversely affect the amenity of the neighbourhood; and
- does not occupy an area greater than 200 m²; and
- does not involve the retail sale, display or hire of any goods unless the sale, display or hire is done only by means of the Internet; and
- does not result in traffic difficulties as a result of the inadequacy of parking or an increase in traffic volumes in the neighbourhood; and
- does not involve the presence, use or calling of more than 3 vehicles at any one time or of a vehicle of more than 30 tonnes gross weight.
Planning Approval
Planning approval is always required. Our checklist outlines the documentation required to obtain planning approval, which can be lodged via our online form. Please note that fees do apply in accordance with the City's Planning Fee Schedule.
Frequently asked questions
How do I apply for home business approval?
The best way to apply for any home business approval is online using the links below. Alternatively, you can lodge your application in person at the City of Wanneroo Civic Centre, Dundebar Road, Wanneroo.
What are the fees for a home business application?
Refer to the City's Fee Schedule prior to making your application. Our online forms will calculate your fees for you and payment will be required upon submission of your application.
Can I run a Family Day Care from home?
A Family Day Care is no longer classified as a Home Business under the Planning Legislation.
Family Day Care means premises where a family day care service as defined in the Education and Care Services National Law (Western Australia) is provided.
To run a family day care centre from home, you will need to:
- Be registered as a Family Day Care Educator
This requires satisfactory completion of the registration and membership process through Family Day Care WA. Further Details and Requirements are available on the Family Day Care WA website. - Obtain Health Approval from the City of Wanneroo
If you will be providing food to children, you will need to complete a Food Business Notification & Registration Form (please note fees may apply depending on your type of application). - Obtain Planning Approval from the City of Wanneroo. Our checklist outlines the documentation required to obtain planning approval, which can be lodged via our online form (fees apply).
Further information explaining how to obtain approval for a Family Day Care business can be found by referring to Information Sheet - Family Day Care Business.
Can I have customers at my home-based business?
This depends on the category that your home business falls under.
| Home Office | Home Occupation | Home Business | Rural Home Business |
|---|---|---|---|
| Must not require visiting customers. | May have clientele. | May have clientele. | May have clientele. |
Can I put a sign outside my house to advertise my business?
This depends on the category that your home business falls under.
A separate application for a Home Business sign is not required. However, the sign must comply with the size requirements for a Home Business being the following:
- Home Office cannot have signage
- Home Occupation must not have a sign exceeding 0.2m²
- Home Business will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
- Rural Home Business will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
These sign restrictions are a condition of any Planning approval.
Guidelines and additional considerations
Home Office, Home Occupation, Home Business and Rural Home Business must not:
- detract from the safety and amenity of the neighbourhood;
- sell, display or hire good unless it is done only by means of the internet;
- involve the use of an essential service that is greater than normally required for a residential dwelling;
- affect the residential appearance of the house or outbuilding;
- require additional parking facilities than normally required for a single dwelling; and
- significantly increase traffic in the neighbourhood.
Further information
To discuss approval requirements associated with Home Offices, Home Occupations, Home Businesses and Rural Home Businesses, please contact the City on 9405 5000.