Home-based business in the ACT

Operating a business from home

Recognising that over 75 per cent of small businesses in the ACT operate from home, the ACT Government has a number of planning policies which are designed to foster business activity in residential areas as long as they don’t unreasonably interfere with the amenity of the residential locality and, in particular, adjoining residences. Legislation allows home occupations and home businesses to operate from residential premises, subject to specific planning criteria being met.

Home Occupation

Approval is not required if your occupation is conducted in your home provided it complies at all times with each of the prescribed conditions relating to the amenity of the neighbourhood. The conditions include parking, onsite storage, structures, coupled with a maximum allocation of 40sqm (including storage) for the business. More information on these conditions is available from the ACT Planning and Land Authority (ACTPLA) Customer Service Centre.

Home Business

If your business is conducted on a ‘larger scale’ and either: employs anyone who is not a resident of the land; or does not meet one or more of the home occupation criteria, you still may be able to operate a business from home, but you will need approval from ACTPLA. This is known as a home business. Approvals can be for a term up to five years, must relate to the applicant only and are not transferable.

More information on approvals for operating a Home-based Business in the ACT

Full details of the conditions applying to home occupations and homes businesses, and what you need to do, can be found on ACTPLA's web site under the Design and build section External Link; by viewing the ACTPLA Small Business Service Charter External Link (PDF - 204.5 KB); or by contacting the ACTPLA Customer Service Centre.

Other requirements for Home-Based business

There are a wide range of government requirements that may also apply to Home-based Businesses in the ACT. > More