Running a business from home in Gold Coast — do you need approval?
City of Gold Coast's planning scheme — the Gold Coast City Plan (City Plan) — Part 5 Tables of assessment (v14, 2026-09-29) — 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
No planning approval needed. A home business is fully accepted if it is home-based child care; any other home business is accepted provided it meets the Home based business code (and a bed and breakfast needs a development application).
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 | No planning approval needed Table 5.5.1 | if home based child careIf not met: accepted if you meet the requirements. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Home based business code |
| Medium density residential zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.5.2 | if home based child careIf not met: accepted if you meet the requirements. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Home based business code, Bed and breakfast and farm stay code |
| High density residential zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.5.3 | if home based child careIf not met: accepted if you meet the requirements. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Home based business code, Bed and breakfast and farm stay code |
| Emerging community zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.5.15 | Home based business other than bed and breakfast (home based child care is accepted)If not met: a development application with code assessment. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Any overlay code triggered by an overlay map, Emerging community zone code, Home based business code, General development provisions code, Healthy waters code, Transport code |
| Rural residential zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.5.21 | home based child careIf not met: accepted if you meet the requirements. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Home based business code, General development provisions code, Healthy waters code, Transport code |
| Township zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.5.23 | if home based child careIf not met: accepted if you meet the requirements. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Home based business code, General development provisions code, Healthy waters code |
| Centre zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.5.4 | if home based child careIf not met: accepted if you meet the requirements. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Home based business code, Bed and breakfast and farm stay code |
| Community facilities zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.5.14 | Home based business is not listed in the Community facilities zone table | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: City Plan including, Strategic framework, Community facilities zone code, Any other relevant code |
| Conservation zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.5.8 | home based business if home based child careIf not met: accepted if you meet the requirements. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Any overlay code triggered by an overlay map, Conservation zone code, Caretakers accommodation code, General development provisions code, Healthy waters code, Home based business code, Secondary dwelling code, Transport code |
| Extractive industry zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.5.16 | Home based business is not listed in the Extractive industry zone table | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: City Plan including, Strategic framework, Extractive industry zone code, Any other relevant code |
| High impact industry zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.5.11 | Home based business is not a listed use in this industry zone, so it defaults to impact assessment and needs a development application. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: City Plan including, Strategic framework, High impact industry zone code, Any other relevant code |
| Innovation zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.5.17 | if home based child careIf not met: accepted if you meet the requirements. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Home based business code, General development provisions code |
| Limited development (constrained land) zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.5.18 | if home based child careIf not met: accepted if you meet the requirements. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Home based business code, General development provisions code, Healthy waters code |
| Low impact industry zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.5.9 | Home based business is not a listed use in this industry zone, so it defaults to impact assessment and needs a development application. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: City Plan including, Strategic framework, Low impact industry zone code, Any other relevant code |
| Major tourism zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.5.13 | Home based business is not listed in the Major tourism zone table | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: City Plan including, Strategic framework, Major tourism zone code, Any other relevant code |
| Medium impact industry zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.5.10 | Home based business is not a listed use in this industry zone, so it defaults to impact assessment and needs a development application. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: City Plan including, Strategic framework, Medium impact industry zone code, Any other relevant code |
| Mixed use zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.5.19 | if home based child careIf not met: accepted if you meet the requirements. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Home based business code, General development provisions code |
| Neighbourhood centre zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.5.5 | home based business if home based child careIf not met: a development application with code assessment. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Any overlay code triggered by an overlay map |
| Open space zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.5.7 | home based business not listed in this zone | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: City Plan including, Strategic framework, Open space zone code, Any other relevant code |
| Rural zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.5.20 | home based child careIf not met: accepted if you meet the requirements. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Home based business code, General development provisions code, Healthy waters code, Transport code |
| Special purpose zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.5.22 | home based business is not listed in the Special purpose zone | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: City Plan including Strategic framework, Special purpose zone code, Any other relevant code |
| Sport and recreation zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.5.6 | home based business not listed in this zone | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: City Plan including, Strategic framework, Sport and recreation zone code, Any other relevant code |
| Waterfront and marine industry zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.5.12 | Home based business is not a listed use in this industry zone, so it defaults to impact assessment and needs a development application. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: City Plan including, Strategic framework, Waterfront and marine industry zone code, Any other relevant code |
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 Gold Coast
Precinct variations within zones can change answers materially: e.g. the Low density residential and Township 'Large lot' precincts allow no additional subdivision lots and have their own MCU tables; the Calypso Bay precinct lowers the Low density residential minimum to 400m²; Future industry precincts require 20ha; the Rural 'Rural landscape and environment' and Rural residential 'landscape and environment' precincts prohibit/limit new lots. Subdivision thresholds use the Residential density overlay (RD1–RD8) in medium/high density residential zones and the Minimum lot size overlay map elsewhere — always check the overlay maps for the specific lot. Schedule 12 'one into two' subdivision does NOT apply anywhere in Gold Coast because the whole city is affected by overlays, so all genuine subdivision is at least code assessable. For all building work (sheds, pools, fences, extensions, demolition) a separate building approval under the Building Act 1975 is also required even where no planning (City Plan) approval is needed. State Vegetation Management Act rules for clearing are separate from the City Plan Vegetation management code. The Special purpose zone is largely regulated by other legislation (see Part 10); the Special development area precinct makes any use impact assessable. Note multiple overlays can apply to one site and the most onerous category prevails.
What else you'll need
- Nothing beyond the planning scheme's own requirements.
More about Gold Coast
- What can you build in Gold Coast? Council overview and development applications
- Every Queensland zone explained, with what each council allows and the planning overlays that change the answer
- What City of Gold Coast charges for a development application, compared with other councils
- A Landbrief site report for your Gold Coast address — every planning layer that applies to the lot
- Development applications in Southport
- Development applications in Surfers Paradise
- Development applications in Palm Beach
- Development applications in Burleigh Heads
- Development applications in Coomera
- Development applications in Mermaid Waters
- Development applications in Broadbeach Waters
- Development applications in Upper Coomera
Other projects in Gold Coast
Granny flatDual occupancySubdivideShed or carportExtensionPoolFence or wallTownhousesShop, café or officeClear treesDemolish
The statewide position on this project: Home business in Queensland.
Read from the Gold Coast City Plan (City Plan) — Part 5 Tables of assessment (v14, 2026-09-29) 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.