Home Businesses
If you wish to operate a home-based business of a greater scale than a Home Occupation, it may still be possible under a Home Business classification. A Home Business will require planning approval before you start operating.
Please refer to the ‘Home Occupation and Business Information Sheet’ on the City’s Development/Planning Applications page for further information and how to submit a planning application for your proposed Home Business.
Other City Approvals
Prior to commencing your home-based business, it is recommended you contact the City for information and advice. Even if a planning application is not required for your business, other forms relating to Health or Building may be required.
What sort of activity can cause problems?
Home Occupations and Home Businesses are businesses that does not create problems with your neighbours. The City of Kwinana often receives complaints from residents about small scale businesses being run from homes that:
- create repeated, prolonged or loud noise;
- increase traffic in the street by delivery vehicles or the parking of customer or client cars;
- produce smoke, smells, fumes, dust, light, vibration, electrical interferences, waste products and the like; or
- are carried out at times outside of normal working hours.
Home-based businesses are intended to accommodate appropriately scaled small businesses within a residential home. They also provide an opportunity for people to establish a small business initially with limited cost outlay and then move into a dedicated commercial premise (like in the Kwinana City Centre) once the business grows beyond a small scale.
Please note: mechanical repairs, panel beating, spray painting and activities involving noisy machinery do not fit into the definition of home occupation. If you cannot comply with the guidelines for a home occupation, you need to look at industrial or commercial premises to set up your business.