Home Business

In recognition of the increased demand from residents to work from home the City has introduced three categories of home business: 

• Home Business Category 1 
• Home Business Category 2 
• Home Business Category 3

The main difference between the categories relates to the intensity of use and the likely effect on the surrounding locality. Standards vary according to the number of non-resident employees allowed, dwelling area used, and presence of customers. For more details refer to the information  below.

When is planning approval required?

Planning approval is not needed for a Home Business Category 1 within a dwelling.
Planning approval is required for a Home Business – Category 2 & 3.

For Category 1 applications, should you require acknowledgement of your business, please provide a letter outlining details of the proposed business in accordance with the criteria together with the fee for written planning advice (refer to Schedule of Fees and Charges).

For Category 2 & 3 applications please provide:

• a covering  letter outlining the proposed business addressing the detailed aspects of the criteria;
• two sets of a plans, including a site plan showing the location of car parking, and floor plan showing the location in which the business will operate from;  
• the application fee in accordance with the Schedule of Fees and Charges;
• a completed Application for Approval to Commence Development Form - MRS Form 1 signed by the land owner.

Renewal of applications

In most cases home business approvals are issued for a 12 month period, and it is the applicant’s responsibility to renew this application if they wish to carry on the business.

To renew the application, applicants must submit:

• a covering letter stating they are seeking to renew the home business and informing the City of any changes to the nature of the approved business
• a renewal fee in accordance with the Schedule of Fees and Charges;
• a signed Application for Approval to Commence Development Form - MRS Form 1 by the owner (for category 2)

Home Business – Category 1

An occupation carried out within a dwelling by a resident of the dwelling which:

• does not entail the retail sale, display or hire of goods of any nature
• does not prejudicially affect the amenity of the neighbourhood
• does not entail any substantial and/or inappropriate modification of the dwelling
• does not entail the employment of any other person
• does not occupy an area greater than 20m2 or where more than one resident is involved and not cause the area used for home business within the dwelling to occupy an area greater than 30m2
• does not display any advertising signage
• does not attract customers or regular and frequent deliveries of goods or equipment to the site
• will not result in the requirement for a greater number of parking facilities than normally reserved for a single dwelling and will not result in any increase in the amount of vehicular traffic in the vicinity
• does not entail the presence, parking and garaging of a vehicle of more than 1.5 tonnes tare weight
• does not involve the servicing or repair for gain of motor vehicles
• does not have customers visit the site
• not withstanding the above outlined factors; a Home Business Category 1 may entail the operation of a family day care centre as defined by Clause 1.9 of this scheme.

Home Business – Category 2

An occupation carried out in a dwelling or on land around a dwelling by a resident of the dwelling which:

• does not entail the retail sale, outdoor display or hire of goods of any nature
• does not prejudicially affect the amenity of the neighbourhood
• does not detract from the residential appearance of the dwelling house or domestic outbuilding
• entails the employment of no more than 1 person who is not a member of the occupier’s household
• does not occupy an area greater than 30m2; the City may permit an area greater than 30m2 where it is considered that the scale of the business is limited by other factors and the increase in floor space will not have a detrimental effect on the amenity of the surrounding areas
• does not have more than one advertising sign and the sign displayed does not exceed 0.2m2 metres in area
• will not result in the requirement for a greater number of parking facilities than normally reserved for a single dwelling, and will not result in a substantial increase in the amount of vehicular traffic in the vicinity
• does not involve the servicing or repair for gain of motor vehicles; and does not entail the presence, parking and garaging of a vehicle of more than 3.5 tonnes tare weight
• does not have more than two customers attending the premises at any one time (Policy 7-9)
• only have customer visits during the hours of 8.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday and 9.00am to 5.00pm Saturday only has customer visits by appointment only
• does not have regular deliveries of goods and equipment (including deliveries carried out at intervals of less than a month)

Home 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 which:

• does not entail the retail sale, outdoor display or hire of goods of any nature;
• does not cause injury to or prejudicially affect the amenity of the neighbourhood;
• does not detract from the residential appearance of the dwelling house or domestic outbuilding;
• entails employment of a maximum of two persons not members of the occupier’s household. Council may approve a greater number of employees, not exceeding four persons, subject to community consultation;
• occupies an area not exceeding 50m2. Council may approve, subject to community consultation, an area of up to 100m2, or one-third of the floor area of the dwelling whichever is the lesser;
• displays a sign describing the nature of the approved home occupation. The sign must not exceed 0.2m2, and a maximum of two metres high;
• will not result in the requirement for a greater number of parking facilities than those provided on the site so as to cause an unacceptable inconvenience for adjoining residents and road users;
• will not result in a substantial increase in the amount of vehicular traffic in the vicinity;
• does not involve the servicing or repair for gain of motor vehicles;
• does not entail the presence, parking and garaging of a vehicle of more than 3.5 tonnes tare weight;
• no more than three customers may attend the premises at any one time (Policy 7–9);
• customer visits must be during the hours of 8.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday and 9.00am to 5.00pm Saturday (Policy 7–9);
• regular deliveries of goods and equipment including deliveries carried out at intervals of less than a month are generally not considered appropriate (Policy 7–9);
• where a Home Business is proposed in either a Residential or Special Residential zone, the preferred location of the proposal is where it abuts or is directly opposite one of the commercial centres listed in the City of Joondalup Centres Strategy (Policy 7–9).
• Applicants proposing to carry out a Home Business – Category 3, must submit a Management Plan as part of the application. Management plans are to include:
  • measures to minimise and control noise;
  • measures to minimise vehicle loading and unloading and traffic movements;
  • the proposed hours of operation;
  • a car parking plan;
  • a landscaping plan including landscape buffers;
  • details of any poisonous, flammable or harmful chemicals or other hazardous materials proposed to be stored or used and measures to ensure that no polluting or harmful substances will escape from the site;
  • measures to minimise emissions of odours, dust or vapours from the site;
  • ways to limit the number of people visiting the house at any one time in relation to the business;
  • a diagram of proposed signage;
  • a plan showing any proposed outdoor storage areas;
  • measures to ensure that no detrimental impact occurs to the character of the neighbourhood;
  • measures to manage the impact of the home business on any building or place listed on the Municipal Inventory of Heritage Places;
  • compliance with all other relevant State and Commonwealth legislation and or Regulations;
  • details of all appliances or machinery to be used in the Home Business.

For further information please contact the City on 9400 4460.