Home Business

Man using a laptop and a mobile phone.
A home occupation is a small business undertaken in a dwelling or on the land surrounding a dwelling, by a resident of the dwelling. You do not need a planning permit for 'home occupation' as long as certain conditions are met.
 
The home occupation provisions of planning schemes seek to ensure that the amenity of the neighbourhood is not adversely affected by the business. To achieve this there are maximum limits placed on the floor area able to be used in the home occupation as well as “amenity” conditions regarding appearance, parking, transport, hours of operation, storage, and emissions. 
 
A number of types of business cannot be run from home including business involving the service and repair of motor vehicles on the site. 
 
Speak with your neighbours and tell them about the business you want to run from home. Tell them to contact you first if your home business disturbs them. This way you could solve a problem without the need to obtain a planning permit. 

 

For more information see below or download our Home-businesses-fact-sheet.pdf(PDF, 514KB)

Planning Requirements

Under Clause 52.11 of the Indigo Planning Scheme, a home-based business MUST meet the following requirements:
  • The person conducting the home based business must use the dwelling as their principal place of residence.
  • No more than two people who do not live in the dwelling may work in the home based business at any one time.
  • The net floor area used in conducting the business including the storage of any materials or goods must not exceed 100 square metres or one-third of the net floor area of the dwelling, whichever is the lesser. The net floor area of the dwelling includes out-buildings and works normal to a dwelling.
  • The business must not impose a load on any utility greater than normally required for domestic use.
  • The business must not adversely affect the amenity of the neighbourhood in any way including:
  • The appearance of any building, works or materials used;
  • The parking of motor vehicles;
  • The transporting of materials or goods to or from the dwelling;
  • The hours of operation;
  • Electrical interference;
  • The storage of chemicals, gasses or other hazardous materials; and
  • Emissions from the site.
  • No motor vehicle may be adjusted, modified, serviced or repaired for gain.
  • Only one commercial vehicle (a commercial goods vehicle, commercial passenger vehicle or tow truck within the meaning of the Transport Act 1983), not exceeding 2 tonnes capacity and with or without a trailer registered to a resident of the dwelling may be present at any time. The vehicle must not be fuelled or repaired on the site.
  •  Only goods manufactured or serviced in the home-based business may be offered for sale. This requirement does not apply to goods offered for sale online.
  • Materials used or goods manufactured, serviced, repaired or offered for sale in the home based business must be stored within a building.
  • No goods manufactured, serviced, repaired or offered for sale may be displayed so that they are visible from outside the site.
  • Any goods offered for sale online must not be collected from the dwelling.

Exceptions

Despite the requirements of Clause 52.11-1, a permit MAY be granted for a home-based business:
  • Which allows no more than three people who do not live in the dwelling to work in the home-based business at any one time; or
  • Which has a floor area not exceeding 200 square metres or one-third of the net floor area of the dwelling, whichever is the lesser.
  • Which allows no more than one additional commercial vehicle (a commercial goods vehicle, commercial passenger vehicle or tow truck within the meaning of the Transport Act 1983), not exceeding two tonnes capacity and with or without a trailer registered to a resident of the dwelling, to be present at any time.

Other Considerations

Before deciding on an application, in addition to the decision guidelines in Clause 65, the responsible authority must consider, as appropriate:
  • Whether there is a need for additional parking or loading facilities.
  • The effect of any vehicle parking, storage or washing facilities on the amenity and character of the street.
  • Whether the site is suitable for the particular home-based business and is compatible with the surrounding use and development.
  • Whether there is a need for landscaping to screen any outbuildings or car parking or loading areas or any other area relating to the home-based business.
In addition, here may be restrictions on the location and size of signage associated with a home occupation and it is often useful to provide full details of a proposal to Council's planners to find out what restrictions may apply.
 
Depending on your business, you may also need to consider Council's environmental health laws and local laws for other permits you may need. 
 
The Business Victoria website is also a useful resource – www.business.vic.gov.au.
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