Running a business from home in Redland — do you need approval?
Redland City Council's planning scheme — the Redland City Plan 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
Accepted if you meet the requirements. Running a business from home needs no development application if it meets the home based business code, otherwise it becomes code assessable.
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 5.4.1 | must operate from an existing residence and be subordinate to the homeIf 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 5.4.2 | must operate from an existing residence and be subordinate to the homeIf 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 5.4.3 | must operate from an existing residence and be subordinate to the homeIf 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 5.4.5 | must operate from an existing residence and be subordinate to the homeIf 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 5.4.21 | must operate from an existing residence and be subordinate to the residential useIf 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 5.4.6 | Must operate from an existing residence and be subordinate to the homeIf not met: a development application with code assessment. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Home based business code |
| Community facilities zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.4.20 | must operate from an existing residence and be subordinate to the residential useIf not met: a development application with code assessment. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Home based business code |
| Conservation zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.4.15 | must operate from an existing home and be subordinate to the residential useIf 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 5.4.9 | Must operate from an existing residence and be subordinate to the homeIf 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 5.4.14 | must operate from an existing home and be subordinate to the residential useIf not met: a development application with code assessment. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Home based business code |
| Local centre zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.4.10 | must operate from an existing residence and be subordinate to the residential use; complies with 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 impact industry zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.16 | home-based business is not listed in this zone, so the default 'any other use' row applies | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Major centre zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.4.8 | Must operate from an existing residence and be subordinate to the homeIf not met: a development application with code assessment. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Home based business code |
| Medium impact industry zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.17 | home-based business is not listed in this zone, so the default 'any other use' row applies | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Mixed use zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.19 | Home-based business is not listed in the mixed use zone, so it falls under the default and needs an impact-assessable development application. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Neighbourhood centre zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.4.11 | must operate from an existing residence and be subordinate to the residential use; complies with the Home based business codeIf not met: a development application with code assessment. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Home based business code |
| Principal centre zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.4.7 | Must operate from an existing residence and be subordinate to the homeIf not met: a development application with code assessment. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Home based business code |
| Recreation and open space zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.13 | A home-based business is not listed in the Recreation and open space zone table, so it falls under 'any other use' and needs an impact-assessable development application. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Rural zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.4.22 | must operate from an existing residence and be subordinate to the residential useIf not met: a development application with code assessment. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Home based business code |
| Specialised centre zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.12 | A home-based business is not listed in the Specialised centre zone table, so it falls under 'any other use' and needs an impact-assessable development application. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Waterfront and marine industry zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.18 | Home-based business is not listed in this industrial zone, so it falls under the default and needs an impact-assessable development application. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: The planning scheme |
Overlays that change the answer
- Airport environs overlay. No change to the category, but assessable development within the airport operational airspace or aviation facility buffer must also be assessed against the Airport environs overlay code. (5.9.1 Airport environs overlay)
Worth knowing in Redland
The tables of assessment do not state numeric minimum lot sizes for reconfiguring a lot; the numeric minimums live in the Reconfiguring a lot code and individual zone codes (not reproduced here). Reconfiguring a lot is impact assessable in the Conservation, Environmental management, Character residential, Tourist accommodation and Rural zones, and in the Emerging community zone where any lot under 10ha is created; it is otherwise code assessable. Building work for a dwelling house (shed, pool, fence, extension, demolition) is generally accepted development under the planning scheme unless an overlay applies (see overlay_triggers) — but a building approval under the Building Act 1975 is still required, and dwelling-house building work in the Low density residential zone precincts LDR1–LDR5 (and dual occupancy/associated building work in LDR5) is accepted subject to requirements against the zone code. Secondary dwellings (granny flats) are treated as part of a 'dwelling house' under the QPP; a dwelling house containing a secondary dwelling still counts as one dwelling for assessment triggers in rural/emerging/environmental management/conservation zones. Where premises are in more than one zone or overlay, the highest category applies. The Transport noise corridor overlay is for information only (building work assessed under QDC Part 4.4). State Vegetation Management Act and Planning Regulation clearing exemptions operate separately from this scheme. There are no local plans in this scheme. Precinct variations (LDR1–5, MDR1–9, CF1–9) can change categories within a zone and should be checked against the relevant zone map.
What else you'll need
- Nothing beyond the planning scheme's own requirements.
More about Redland
- What can you build in Redland? Council overview and development applications
- Every Queensland zone explained, with what each council allows and the planning overlays that change the answer
- What Redland City Council charges for a development application, compared with other councils
- A Landbrief site report for your Redland address — every planning layer that applies to the lot
- Development applications in Cleveland
- Development applications in Redland Bay
- Development applications in Birkdale
- Development applications in Capalaba
- Development applications in Wellington Point
- Development applications in Alexandra Hills
- Development applications in Thornlands
- Development applications in Victoria Point
Other projects in Redland
Granny flatDual occupancySubdivideShed or carportExtensionPoolFence or wallTownhousesShop, café or officeClear treesDemolish
The statewide position on this project: Home business in Queensland.
Read from the Redland City Plan 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.