Running a business from home in Brisbane — do you need approval?
Brisbane City Council's planning scheme — the Brisbane City Plan 2014 — decides whether a home business needs a development application, and the answer depends on the zone your property is in. Below is what its table of assessment says for each zone; or check your own address.
In a low density residential zone
Accepted if you meet the requirements. Running a business from home needs no development application if it meets the Home-based business code, otherwise a code-assessed application is required.
I don't know my zone — choose my council instead
The zone is on your rates notice, or a Landbrief site report will find it for you.
Zone by zone
Home-based business. Residential zones first.
| Zone | What the table says | Conditions | What you'll need |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low density residential zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.5.1 | if complying with all acceptable outcomes in the Home-based business codeIf not met: a development application with code assessment. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Home-based business code |
| Low-medium density residential zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.5.2 | if complying with all acceptable outcomes in the Home-based business codeIf not met: a development application with code assessment. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Home-based business code |
| Medium density residential zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.5.3 | if complying with all acceptable outcomes in the Home-based business codeIf not met: a development application with code assessment. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Home-based business code |
| High density residential zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.5.4 | if complying with all acceptable outcomes in the Home-based business codeIf not met: a development application with code assessment. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Home-based business code |
| Character residential zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.5.5 | if complying with all acceptable outcomes in the Home-based business codeIf not met: a development application with code assessment. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Home-based business code |
| Tourist accommodation zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.5.6 | if complying with all acceptable outcomes in the Home-based business codeIf not met: a development application with code assessment. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Home-based business code |
| Rural residential zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.5.24 | if complying with all acceptable outcomes in the Home-based business codeIf not met: a development application with code assessment. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Home-based business code |
| Township zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.5.27 | if complying with all acceptable outcomes in the Home-based business codeIf not met: a development application with code assessment. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Home-based business code |
| Emerging community zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.5.20 | if complying with all acceptable outcomes in the Home-based business codeIf not met: a development application with code assessment. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Home-based business code |
| Community facilities zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.5.19 | Home-based business is not listed for the Community facilities zone, so it defaults to an impact-assessable development application (unless it meets the Regulation's accepted requirements). | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: The planning scheme including:, Community facilities code |
| Conservation zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.5.14 | if complying with all acceptable outcomes in the Home-based business codeIf not met: a development application with code assessment. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Home-based business code |
| District centre zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.5.9 | if complying with all acceptable outcomes in the Home-based business codeIf not met: a development application with code assessment. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Home-based business code |
| Environmental management zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.5.13 | if complying with all acceptable outcomes in the Home-based business codeIf not met: a development application with code assessment. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Home-based business code |
| Extractive industry zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.5.21 | Home-based business is not listed for the Extractive industry zone, so it defaults to an impact-assessable development application (unless it meets the Regulation's accepted requirements). | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Industry investigation zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.5.18 | A home-based business is not listed in the Industry investigation zone table, so the default applies and an impact-assessable development application is required unless accepted under the Regulation. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Industry zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.5.16 | A home-based business is not listed in the Industry zone table, so the default applies and an impact-assessable development application is required unless accepted under the Regulation. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Low impact industry zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.5.15 | A home-based business is not listed for this industrial zone, so the default applies and (unless accepted under the Regulation) an impact-assessable development application is required. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Major centre zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.5.8 | if complying with all acceptable outcomes in the Home-based business codeIf not met: a development application with code assessment. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Home-based business code |
| Mixed use zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.5.22 | if complying with all acceptable outcomes in the Home-based business codeIf not met: a development application with code assessment. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Home-based business code |
| Neighbourhood centre zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.5.10 | if complying with all acceptable outcomes in the Home-based business codeIf not met: a development application with code assessment. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Home-based business code |
| Open space zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.5.12 | Home-based business is not listed for the Open space zone, so the default 'any other use' row applies and an impact-assessable development application is required. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Principal centre zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.5.7 | if complying with all acceptable outcomes in the Home-based business codeIf not met: a development application with code assessment. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Home-based business code |
| Rural zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.5.23 | if complying with all acceptable outcomes in the Home-based business codeIf not met: a development application with code assessment. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Home-based business code |
| Special industry zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.5.17 | A home-based business is not listed in the Special industry zone table, so the default applies and an impact-assessable development application is required unless accepted under the Regulation. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Special purpose zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.5.25 | A home-based business is not listed for this zone, so it falls under the 'any other use' default and needs an impact-assessed development application open to public objections. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: The planning scheme including:, Special purpose code |
| Specialised centre zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.5.26 | Home-based business is not listed in the Specialised centre zone, so the default 'any other use' row applies and you need an impact-assessable development application. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: The planning scheme including: Specialised centre code |
| Sport and recreation zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.5.11 | Home-based business is not listed for this zone, so the default 'any other use' row applies and an impact-assessable development application is required. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: The planning scheme |
Overlays that change the answer
The table above is the base case, before any overlay. Flood, bushfire, landslide, heritage and character overlays are the usual reasons a normally-accepted project becomes a development application — add your address above and the tool flags the ones that apply to your lot.
Worth knowing in Brisbane
Base-case categories are drawn from the zone MCU tables (5.5), the ROL table (5.6), the building work table (5.7) and operational work table (5.8). For building work (shed, carport, garage, extension, pool, fence, demolition) the default category is 'accepted development' unless the building work table or an overlay makes it assessable — a separate building approval under the Building Act is still required. Secondary dwellings (granny flats) are assessed under the 'Dwelling house' row because the QPP definition of Dwelling house includes a secondary dwelling; a secondary dwelling must still meet the Dwelling house code acceptable outcomes to be accepted. Subdivision minimums shown are the thresholds at which ROL becomes impact assessable; ROL that meets the minimum is generally code assessable, and subdividing 1 lot into 2 in a residential or industry zone is regulated code assessment under section 5.4 unless an overlay applies. Lot-size rules in several residential zones vary by precinct and proximity to centres/key locations — the numeric value given is the smallest/entry threshold and the note explains the variation. Many neighbourhood plans (section 5.9) change the category of assessment for MCU and/or ROL in specific precincts (e.g. Bridgeman Downs sets specific lot criteria, Darra-Oxley sets 1,000-2,000m² industrial minimums, Fortitude Valley special entertainment area changes licensed-premises categories) — always check the applicable neighbourhood plan. Where a use is not listed in a zone's MCU table, the default category is impact assessment ('any other use'). Where development is in more than one overlay, the highest category applies. State Vegetation Management Act and other State approvals are separate from the local scheme position shown for tree clearing.
What else you'll need
- Nothing beyond the planning scheme's own requirements.
More about Brisbane
- What can you build in Brisbane? Council overview and development applications
- Every Queensland zone explained, with what each council allows and the planning overlays that change the answer
- What Brisbane City Council charges for a development application, compared with other councils
- A Landbrief site report for your Brisbane address — every planning layer that applies to the lot
- Development applications in Rochedale
- Development applications in Bulimba
- Development applications in Paddington
- Development applications in New Farm
- Development applications in Wynnum
- Development applications in Doolandella
- Development applications in Ashgrove
- Development applications in South Brisbane
Other projects in Brisbane
Granny flatDual occupancySubdivideShed or carportExtensionPoolFence or wallTownhousesShop, café or officeClear treesDemolish
The statewide position on this project: Home business in Queensland.
Read from the Brisbane City Plan 2014 tables of assessment. General information, not advice. The council's planning scheme and the Planning Act 2016 decide — confirm with the council or a town planner before you build.