Running a business from home in Livingstone — do you need approval?
Livingstone Shire Council's planning scheme — the Livingstone Planning Scheme 2018 — 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-based child care service is accepted, and any other home business is accepted if it meets the zone code rules.
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 5.4.6.1 | if it is a home based child care serviceIf not met: accepted if you meet the requirements. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Low density residential zone code, Accommodation activities code, General development code, Development works code |
| Low-Medium Density Residential Zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.4.6.2 | if it is a home based child care serviceIf not met: accepted if you meet the requirements. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Low-medium density residential zone code, Accommodation activities code, General development code, Development works code |
| Medium Density Residential Zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.4.6.3 | if it is a home based child care serviceIf not met: accepted if you meet the requirements. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Medium density residential zone code, Accommodation activities code, General development code, Development works code |
| Emerging Community Zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.4.4.2 | if it is for a home based child care serviceIf not met: accepted if you meet the requirements. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Emerging community zone code, Accommodation activities code, General development code, Development works code |
| Rural Residential Zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.4.4.5 | a home based child care serviceIf not met: accepted if you meet the requirements. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Rural residential zone code, Accommodation activities code, General development code, Development works code |
| Township Zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.4.4.8 | a home based child care serviceIf not met: accepted if you meet the requirements. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Township zone code, Accommodation activities code, General development code, Development works code |
| Community Facilities Zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.4.1 | A home based business is not a listed use in this zone, so it needs an impact-assessable development application. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: The planning scheme, to the extent relevant |
| District Centre Zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.1.3 | Home based business is not a listed use in this zone | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: The planning scheme, to the extent relevant |
| Environmental Management and Conservation Zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.2.1 | A home based business is not a listed use in this conservation zone, so it needs an impact-assessable development application. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: The planning scheme, to the extent relevant |
| Limited Development Zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.4.3 | A home based business is not listed in this zone's table, so it defaults to impact assessment requiring a development application. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: The planning scheme, to the extent relevant |
| Local Centre Zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.1.2 | Home based business is not a listed use in this zone | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: The planning scheme, to the extent relevant |
| Low Impact Industry Zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.3.1 | A home based business is not a listed use in this industry zone, so it needs an impact-assessable development application. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: The planning scheme, to the extent relevant |
| Major Centre Zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.1.4 | Home based business is not a listed use in this zone | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: The planning scheme, to the extent relevant |
| Major Tourism Zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.4.7.1 | if it is for a home based child care serviceIf not met: accepted if you meet the requirements. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Major tourism zone code, Accommodation activities code, General development code, Development works code |
| Medium Impact Industry Zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.3.2 | A home based business is not a listed use in this industry zone, so it needs an impact-assessable development application. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: The planning scheme, to the extent relevant |
| Neighbourhood Centre Zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.1.1 | Home based business is not a listed use in this zone | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: The planning scheme, to the extent relevant |
| Open Space Zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.5.1 | A home based business is not listed in this zone, so it falls into the 'any other use' impact category needing an impact-assessable development application. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: The planning scheme, to the extent relevant |
| Rural Zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.4.4.4 | a home based child care serviceIf not met: accepted if you meet the requirements. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Rural zone code, Accommodation activities code, General development code, Development works code |
| Special Purpose Zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.4.6 | A home based business is not listed in this zone's table, so it defaults to impact assessment requiring a development application. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: The planning scheme, to the extent relevant |
| Specialised Centre Zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.4.7 | A home based business is not listed in this zone's table, so it defaults to impact assessment requiring a development application. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: The planning scheme, to the extent relevant |
| Sport and Recreation Zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.5.2 | home based business is not listed for this zone | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: The planning scheme, to the extent relevant |
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 Livingstone
Minimum lot sizes shown are the ToA thresholds above which creating additional lots is code assessable; below those thresholds reconfiguring is impact assessable (the Reconfiguring a Lot Code Table 9.3.3.4.2 sets the detailed minimum lot areas/dimensions/frontages, which was not fully reproduced here). Note precinct variations: Rural Residential (Park Residential Precinct 4000m² vs 2ha elsewhere); Rural Zone (Capricorn Coast Rural Precinct 10ha, Class A/B Agricultural Land 60ha, otherwise 150ha); Rural and Township zones have a Yaamba Historic Township Precinct that changes dwelling house/building work categories. For shop_office the three uses (Shop, Food and drink outlet, Office) can differ — e.g. in centre zones a Shop/Food and drink outlet is often accepted/ASR if within an existing building but code assessable if a new building or drive-through, while in Township and Specialised Centre zones these uses are generally code assessable. The Seaspray Local Plan overrides the underlying zone for dwelling house, dual occupancy and building work within its precincts (dwelling house and dual occupancy are accepted subject to requirements). Overlays only change categories to the extent the premises is affected by the overlay, and overlay effects do not apply where the relevant overlay code's accepted-development acceptable outcomes are met. A separate building approval under the Building Act is required for building work even where planning categorises it as accepted. State Vegetation Management Act rules operate separately from the scheme's clearing provisions.
What else you'll need
- Nothing beyond the planning scheme's own requirements.
More about Livingstone
- What can you build in Livingstone? Council overview and development applications
- Every Queensland zone explained, with what each council allows and the planning overlays that change the answer
- What Livingstone Shire Council charges for a development application, compared with other councils
- A Landbrief site report for your Livingstone address — every planning layer that applies to the lot
- Development applications in Yeppoon
- Development applications in Emu Park
- Development applications in Lammermoor
- Development applications in Taranganba
- Development applications in Zilzie
- Development applications in Hidden Valley
- Development applications in Tanby
- Development applications in Kinka Beach
Other projects in Livingstone
Granny flatDual occupancySubdivideShed or carportExtensionPoolFence or wallTownhousesShop, café or officeClear treesDemolish
The statewide position on this project: Home business in Queensland.
Read from the Livingstone Planning Scheme 2018 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.