The City has three categories of home-based businesses.
Category 1
An occupation carried on within a dwelling by a resident of the dwelling.
Council requirements
No Planning Approval is required. A Letter of Compliance can be provided upon request. Health Approval may be required.
Area
Must not occupy an area greater than 20m², or 30m² when more than one occupier is involved.
Number of staff
Must not require any extra staff other than the occupants of the dwelling.
Advertising signs
Must not display advertising signs.
Size of vehicles
Must not require a vehicle of more than 1.5 tonnes.
Customers
Must not require visiting customers or frequent deliveries of goods or equipment.
Category 1 Approvals
Planning Approval
Planning approval is not required, 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 Category 1 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
If you are running a family day care business and providing food to children, you will need to submit a Food Business Notification & Registration Form. Please note that fees do apply in accordance with the City's Fee Schedule.
Category 2
An occupation carried on in a dwelling or on land around a dwelling by a resident of the dwelling.
Council requirements
Planning Approval is required before home business operations commence. Health Approval may be required.
Area
Must not occupy an area greater than 30m². The City may permit a greater area if justified.
Number of staff
Must not require the employment of more than one person not a member of the occupiers household.
Advertising signs
One advertising sign, up to 0.2m² can be displayed.
Size of vehicles
Must not require a vehicle of more than 3.5 tonnes.
Customers
May have clientele.
Category 2 Approvals
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 or family daycare businesses.
If you are running a family day care business and providing food to children, you will need to submit a Food Business Notification & Registration Form. Please note that fees do apply in accordance with the City's Fee Schedule.
- 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.
- Hair Dressing & 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.
- Family Day Care: If you are running a family day care business and providing food to children, you will 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. 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.
Category 3
An occupation or professional practice undertaken for the purposes of commercial gain and carried on in a dwelling or on land around a dwelling by a resident of the dwelling.
Council requirements
Planning Approval is required before home business operations commence. Health Approval may be required.
Area
Must not occupy an area greater than 50m². The City may permit a greater area if justified.
Number of staff
Must not entail employment of more than 2 persons other than the occupiers of the household. The City may approve up to 4 persons if justififed.
Advertising signs
One advertising sign, up to 0.2m² can be displayed (maximum of 2m high).
Size of vehicles
Must not require a vehicle of more than 3.5 tonnes.
Customers
May have clientele.
Category 3 Approvals
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 or family daycare businesses.
If you are running a family day care business and providing food to children, you will need to submit a Food Business Notification & Registration Form. Please note that fees do apply in accordance with the City's Health Services Fee Schedule.
- 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.
- Hair Dressing & 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.
- Family Day Care: If you are running a family day care business and providing food to children, you will 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. 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.
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.
- Home Business - Category 1
- Home Business Category 2 & 3 (Development Approval)
- Food Business Notification & Registration
- Hair Dressing & Skin Penetration
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 daycare from home?
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 a Letter of Compliance (optional)
The City of Wanneroo's Planning department classifies a family day care business as a Home Business - Category 1, which does not require planning approval. However, you must comply with the Child Care Services (Child Care) Regulations 2006.
If you would like a Letter of Compliance, this can be provided upon request by completing our online application form.
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 business?
This depends on the category that your home business falls under.
| Category 1 | Category 2 | Category 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Must not require visiting customers or frequent deliveries of goods or equipment. | 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:
- Category 1 cannot have signage
- Category 2 must not have a sign exceeding 0.2m2
- Category 3 must not have a sign exceeding 0.2m2 with a maximum of 2 metres high.
These sign restrictions are a condition of any Home Business approval.
Guidelines and additional considerations
Home businesses must not:
- detract from the safety and amenity of the neighbourhood
- sell, display or hire good
- involve the service or repair of motor vehicles
- affect the residential appearance of the house or outbuilding
- require additional parking facilities than normally required for a single dwelling
- significantly increase traffic in the neighbourhood.
Further information
To discuss approval requirements associated with Home Businesses, please contact the City on 9405 5000.