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Home based businesses requirements

You must conform to State planning laws

Operating a business from your place of residence must conform to State planning laws.

A home based business in a residential zone must meet the following requirements:

(A home-based business located on land not zoned residential, will have other requirements. Therefore it is important to contact Council to discuss your particular circumstances).

  • The person conducting the home-based business must use the dwelling as their principal place of residence.
  • No more than 2 persons 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 home-based 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 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, gases or other hazardous materials.
    • Emissions from the site.
  • No motor vehicle may be adjusted, modified, serviced or repaired for gain.
  • Only 1 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 site.
  • No goods other than 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 or repaired in the home-based business must be stored within a building.
  • No goods manufactured, serviced or repaired 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.

You need a permit if you cannot comply with any of the above criteria.

You may need a permit

A permit may be granted for a home occupation:

  • Which allows no more than 3 people who do not live in the dwelling to work in the occupation at any one time.
  • 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 1 additional 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, to be present at any time.

Decision guidelines

Some features a City of Casey Town Planner will consider when looking at a planning permit application for a home occupation in a residential zone might include:

  • 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.

To enable the City of Casey to determine whether the type of home occupation proposed complies with the above requirements, it is requested that you write to Council supplying written information about the nature of the business, outlining how your proposed use complies with the above requirements and providing two copies of plans showing the site and dwelling layout nominating the areas to be used for the home occupation.

It is important that you have regard to the home occupation requirements at all times. The requirements are ongoing obligations. While you may have satisfied Council of compliance at the time you wrote to Council, if the business has changed you may no longer comply.

Further information on the Casey Planning Scheme.

Advertising signs

You can erect one non-illuminated home occupation sign up to 0.2 square metres without planning approval. While signs in excess of 0.2square metres require a planning permit, Council's planning policies do not support larger signs for home businesses, to protect residential amenity.

Other permits and requirements

If you intend to establish a food business, hairdressing shop, beauty parlour, tattooing, ear piercing or other process involving the penetration of skin, visit the permits for businesses page or contact us.

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