Home Based Business & Home Activity

Council encourages home based business.  

There are numerous benefits to operators and business owners including engaging with existing local business, local employment opportunities, and supporting the local retail and hospitality economy.

In certain circumstances you can run a small-scale business from your home.  This is defined as a 'home activity' by the Development Act 1993 or, after 19 March 2021, the Planning Development and Infrastructure Act 2016.  

A home activity is not deemed development and does not require approval from Council provided it is operated within certain guidelines, which are designed to protect the residential nature and quality of an area.  That is, provided it complies with the definition of a home activity and does not detract from the enjoyment of the area for your neighbours.  For more information, read Council's Information Guide 3 - Home Activity(PDF, 38KB)(PDF, 224KB).

Council requests that if a home activity is to be conducted in a private residence, a letter outlining the manner in which the activity is to be undertaken should be submitted to Council for information purposes only.

Under the relevant legislation a 'home activity' is comprised of the following:

A use of a site by a person resident on the site –

  1. That does not detrimentally affect the amenity of the locality or any part of the locality; and
  2. That does not require or involve any of the following:
  3. assistance by more than one person who is not a resident in the dwelling;
  4. use (whether temporarily or permanently) of a floor area exceeding 30 square metres;
  5. the imposition on the services provided by a public utility organisation of any demand or load greater than that which is ordinarily imposed by other users of the services in the locality;
  6. the display of goods in a window or about the dwelling or its curtilage;
  7. the use of a vehicle exceeding three (3) tonne tare in weight.

Council receives complaints from neighbours about home activities which:

  1. create repeated, prolonged or loud noise;
  2. increase traffic in the street by delivery vehicles or the parking of customers/clients cars;
  3. produce smoke, smells, fumes, dust and the like;
  4. are conducted at times outside of normal working hours or for extended or continuous periods.

 

Related Information

Back to top