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?
What are the fees for a home business application?
Can I run a Family Day Care from home?
Can I have customers at my home-based business?
Can I put a sign outside my house to advertise my business?
Guidelines and additional considerations
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.