The City has four categories of home-based businesses.
Home Office
A dwelling used by an occupier of the dwelling to carry out a home occupation.
Council requirements
No Planning Approval is required. A Letter of Compliance can be provided upon request. Health Approval may be required.
Area
Solely within the dwelling and must not occupy an area greater than 20m².
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 4.5 tonnes.
Customers
Must not require visiting customers.
Home Office 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 Home Office 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.
Home Occupation
An occupation carried on in a dwelling or on land around a dwelling by an occupier of the dwelling.
Council requirements
Planning Approval is required before home occupation operations commence. Health Approval may be required.
Area
Must not occupy an area greater than 20m².
Number of staff
Must not require the employment of a person who is not a member of the occupier’s household.
Advertising signs
One advertising sign, up to 0.2m² can be displayed.
Size of vehicles
Must not require a vehicle of more than 4.5 tonnes.
Customers
May have clientele.
Home Occupation 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 businesses.
- 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.
- 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.
Home Business
A business, service or profession carried out in a dwelling or on land around a dwelling by the occupier 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.
Number of staff
Must not entail employment of more than 2 persons other than the occupiers of the household.
Size of vehicles
Must not require a vehicle of more than 4.5 tonnes.
Customers
May have clientele.
Home Business 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 businesses.
- 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.
- Skin Penetration: If your home business involves any form of skin penetration (e.g. tattooing, ear piercing) you need to complete and submit a Skin Penetration Notification Form. View some useful information sheets regarding these businesses.
Rural Home Business
A business, service or profession carried out in a dwelling or on land around a dwelling by the occupier of the dwelling within a rural lot.
Rural Home Business information
Council requirements
Planning Approval is required before home business operations commence. Health Approval may be required.
Area
Must not occupy an area greater than 200m².
Number of staff
Must not entail employment of more than 2 persons other than the occupiers of the household.
Number and size of vehicles
Must not require the use of more than 3 vehicles at any one time, or of a vehicle of more than 30 tonnes.
Customers
May have clientele.
Rural Home Business 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 businesses.
- 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.
- 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 Skin Penetration Notification Form. View some useful information sheets regarding these businesses.
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.
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 Day Care 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 Planning Approval from the City of Wanneroo. Our checklist outlines the documentation required to obtain planning approval, which can be lodged via our online form (fees apply).
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-based business?
This depends on the category that your home business falls under.
| Category 1 | Category 2 | Category 3 | Rural Home Business |
|---|---|---|---|
| Must not require visiting customers. | May have clientele. | 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:
- Home Office cannot have signage
- Home Occupation must not have a sign exceeding 0.2m2
- Home Business will be considered on a case by case basis.
- Rural Home Business will be considered on a case by case basis.
These sign restrictions are a condition of any Planning approval.
Guidelines and additional considerations
Home Office, Home Occupation, Home Business and Rural Home Business must not:
- detract from the safety and amenity of the neighbourhood;
- sell, display or hire good unless it is done only by means of the internet;
- involve the use of an essential service that is greater than normally required for a residential dwelling;
- affect the residential appearance of the house or outbuilding;
- require additional parking facilities than normally required for a single dwelling; and
- significantly increase traffic in the neighbourhood.
Further information
To discuss approval requirements associated with Home Offices, Home Occupations, Home Businesses and Rural Home Businesses, please contact the City on 9405 5000.