Home Based Businesses  

Home based businesses involves any service, profession or business carried out in a dwelling by the occupier of the dwelling. This includes any ‘Home Office’, ‘Home Occupation’, ‘Home Business’ and ‘Cottage industry.’

Home based businesses are permitted in some land use zonings subject to an application for planning approval. There are however, some exemptions, to determine if you require planning approval for your Home Based Business it is recommended you contact the Shire of Narrogin’s Planning Department.

Types of Home Based Businesses:

Home Business: “home business” means a business, service or profession carried out in a dwelling or on land around a dwelling by an occupier of the dwelling which –

  1. Does not employ more than 2 people not members of the occupiers household;
  2. Will not cause injury to or adversely affect the amenity of the neighbourhood;
  3. Does not occupy an area greater than 50 square metres.
  4. Does not involve the retail sale, display or hire of goods of any nature.
  5. In relation to vehicles and parking, does not result in traffic difficulties as a result of the inadequacy of parking or an increase in traffic volumes in the neighbourhood, and does not involve the presence, use or calling of a vehicle more than 3.5 tonnes tare weight; and
  6. Does not involve the use of any essential service greater than normally required in the zone;

Home Occupation: “Means a business or activity carried on with the written permission of the Council within a dwelling house of curtilage of a house by a person resident therein or within a domestic outbuilding by a person resident in the dwelling appurtenant that:

  1. Does not cause injury to or prejudicially affect the amenity of the neighbourhood including (but without limiting the generality of the foregoing) injury, or prejudicial affection due to the emission of light, noise, vibration, electrical interference, smell, fumes, smoke, vapour, steam, soot, ash, dust, grit, oil, liquid wastes or waste products or the unsightly appearance of the dwelling house or domestic outbuilding in or the land on which the business is conducted;
  2. Does not entail employment of any person not a member of the occupiers family;
  3. Does not occupy an area greater than twenty square metres;
  4. Does not require the provision of any essential service main of a greater capacity than normally required in the zone in which it is located;
  5. Does not display a sign exceeding 0.2 square meters in area;
  6. In the opinion of the Council it is compatible with the principal uses to which land in the zone it is located may be put and will not in the opinion of the Council generate a volume of traffic that would prejudice the amenity of the area;
  7. Does not entail the presence, use or calling of a vehicles of more than two tonnes tare weight;
  8. Does not entail the presence of more than one commercial vehicles and does not include provision for the fuelling or repairing of motor vehicles within the curtilage of the dwelling house or domestic outbuilding
  9. Does not entail the offering for sale or display of motor vehicles, machinery or goods (other than goods manufactured or serviced on the premises); and
  10. Does not entail a source of power other than an electric motor of not more than 0.373 kilowatts (0.5hp).”

Cottage Industry: Means an industry which produces arts and craft goods which cannot be carried out under the provisions relating to a “home occupation” and that:

  1. Does not cause injury to or prejudicially affect the amenity of the neighbourhood including (but without limiting the generality of the foregoing) injury, or prejudicial affection, due to the emission of light, noise, vibration, steam, soot, ash, dust, grit, oil, liquid wastes or waste products;
  2. Where operated in a Residential Zone, does not entail the employment of any person not a member of the occupiers family normally resident on the land;
  3. Is conducted in an outbuilding which is compatible to the zone and its amenity and does not occupy an area in excess of 5 metres squared;
  4. Does not require the provision of any essential service main of a greater capacity than normally required in the zone in which it is located; and
  5. Does not display a sign exceeding 0.2 square metres in area.”

Home Office: “Means a home occupation limited to a business carried out solely within a dwelling by a resident of the dwelling but which does not –

  1. entail clients or customers to and from the dwelling;
  2. involve any advertising signs on the premises; or
  3. Require any external change to the appearance of the dwelling.”

Permissibility

A ‘Home Occupation’ is listed as an ‘IP’ use within a Single Residential Zone, which means the use may be permitted provided it is incidental to the predominant use of a house.

A ‘Cottage Industry’ is listed as an ‘AP’ land use within a Rural and Rural Residential zones, which means it may be permitted by Council, after advertising the proposal is undertaken.

A ‘Home Office’ may be established within a Single Residential, Other Residential, Rural Residential and Rural Zones Only. Should a Home Office comply with the above definition they are exempt from prior planning approval to operate provided, the activity will not impact on the character or amenity of the area.

A ‘Home Business’; may be established within ‘Rural Residential’ and ‘Rural Zones.’

Application & General Information

An application for a home based business is available below or at the Shire of Narrogin Office. It is recommended that you consult with the Shire of Narrogin Planning Department to determine if your home based business is subject to an application for planning consent and can be undertaken from the proposed premises.

When considering home based businesses the Shire of Narrogin consider similar types of business in the locality, the amenity of the area, the suitability of the land under which it is zoned and other suitable premises for the intended home based business.

If a home based business is subject to an application for planning consent and it is approved it is valid for a 12 month period and may be renewed upon writing to Council. The home occupation is not able to be transferred or assigned to a person nor does it run with the land in respect to where it was granted.

If in the opinion of the Council a home occupation is causing a nuisance or annoyance to neighbours or to other persons within the neighbourhood or if any condition is not complied with, the Council may revoke an approval granted in respect to the Home Occupation.

Application for Home Based Business