Home based business

In Cairns, a home based business is defined as a business activity conducted in a residential house (dwelling house), where the business is ancillary and subordinate to the primary residential use of the property.  It does not apply to an employee of an off-site business who telecommutes or works remotely from their home.

A home based business is small-scale and should not have an adverse impact on adjoining or surrounding residences. It is operated by the residents of the house and does not require more than one non-resident employee.

Examples include:

• Bed & Breakfast
• home office eg, for a consultant or contractor
• small-scale beauty or massage service
• home-based childcare or family day care

Businesses that have potential to cause nuisance, noise or environmental impacts would not be able to operate from a residentail home dwelling, for example:

• shop
• vehicle repair workshop
• laundromat
• swim school
• gym or personal training centre
• commercial scale food preparation
• food and drink outlet / cafe

Planning approval

Not all home based businesses need Council approval. Some are self-assessable and can meet all relevant Acceptable outcomes of the applicable codes.

The level of assessment required for a Home Based Business can be determined by referring to Part 5.5 of CairnsPlan 2016. For guidance on using CairnsPlan 2016 and determining the level of assessment for development, refer to the User Guide.

Some types of Home Based Businesses will be accepted development. Accepted development does not require a Development Permit. However, the Home-Based Business must comply with all of the requirements for accepted development.

• Where the Home Based Business does not comply with the requirements for accepted development, or where the Home Based Business is listed as requiring Code or Impact assessment within Part 5.5 of CairnsPlan 2016, a development application will be required.

Any conditions of approval for a Home Based Business will depend on the scale, nature and location of the business. However, Council is likely to set conditions regarding amenity and the operation of the Home Based Business. For example, Council may set conditions restricting the hours of operation, or the number of employees and vehicle trips or visitors per day.

Download our Home Based Business fact sheet ( PDF, 0.34 MB ) for more information.

Other approvals

Home Based Businesses are generally undertaken within existing Dwelling houses.  CairnsPlan 2016 contains all the planning requirements and assessment benchmarks for Home Based Businesses. However, there may be other regulations or licenses that will apply to your Home Based Business, including but not limited to:

• If you intend to do any building work for the home based business (eg an extension to your dwelling house), you will need to obtain building certification (building permit). Read more about Building certification.
• Advertising signage devices are regulated by Council and may require a permit. Read more about advertising devices.
• If you are preparing food for sale or providing meals as part of a bed and breakfast operation, you will need to comply with food business licensing requirements. Read more about food business licensing.
• Personal appearance services businesses such as hairdressing have obligations under the Public Health (Infection and Control for Personal Appearance Services) Act 2003.
• If you live in a strata titled unit or townhouse, you may need approval from the body corporate.