Running a business from home in Rockhampton — do you need approval?
Rockhampton Regional Council's planning scheme — the Rockhampton Region Planning Scheme 2015 (Version 5, 2025-03-28) — 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 home-based business is accepted if it meets the zone code requirements, so no development application is usually needed.
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 5.4.1.1 | Running a home-based business is accepted if it meets the zone code requirements, so no development application is usually needed. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Low density residential zone code |
| Low density residential zone — Fitzroy River accommodation precinct | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.4.1.1.1 | Running a home-based business is accepted if it meets the zone code requirements, so no development application is usually needed. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Low density residential zone code |
| Low density residential zone — Residential stables precinct | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.4.1.1.2 | Running a home-based business is accepted if it meets the zone code requirements, so no development application is usually needed. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Low density residential zone code |
| Low-medium density residential zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.4.1.2 | Running a home-based business is accepted if it meets the zone code requirements, so no development application is usually needed. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Low-medium density residential zone code |
| High density residential zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.4.1.3 | Running a business from home is accepted if it meets the zone code requirements, so usually no development application is needed. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: High density residential zone code |
| Rural residential zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.4.6.5 | if involving no more than two heavy vehicles and two heavy trailers stored on site at any one timeIf not met: a development application with impact assessment (neighbours can make submissions). | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Rural residential zone code |
| Township zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.4.6.7 | A home-based business is accepted in the Township zone provided it meets the Township zone code requirements, so no development application is needed if those are met. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Township zone code |
| Emerging community zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.4.6.2 | A home-based business is accepted provided it meets the zone code requirements, so no development application is needed if those rules are met. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Emerging community zone code |
| Community facilities zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.6.1 | Home-based business is not listed for the Community facilities zone, so it defaults to an impact-assessable development application. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| District centre zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.4.2.3 | Running a business from home is accepted development in this zone, so no development application is needed. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Not applicable |
| Environmental management and conservation zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.4.1 | A home-based business is not listed in this zone, so it falls under 'any other use' and needs an impact-assessable development application. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| High impact industry zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.5.3 | A home-based business is not listed in the High impact industry zone, so it defaults to impact assessment and needs a development application. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Limited development (constrained land) zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.6.3 | A home-based business is not listed in this zone, so it falls under 'any other use' and needs an impact-assessable development application. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Local centre zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.4.2.4 | Running a home-based business in the Local centre zone is accepted and does not need a development application. | Nothing further under the planning scheme |
| Low impact industry zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.4.5.1 | A home-based business is accepted in the Low impact industry zone if it meets the zone code requirements, so no development application is needed when those are met. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Low impact industry zone code |
| Major centre zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.4.2.2 | Running a business from home is accepted development in this zone, so no development application is needed. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Not applicable |
| Medium impact industry zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.4.5.2 | A home-based business is accepted in the Medium impact industry zone if it meets the zone code requirements, so no development application is needed when those are met. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Medium impact industry zone code |
| Neighbourhood centre zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.4.2.5 | Running a home-based business in the Neighbourhood centre zone is accepted and does not need a development application. | Nothing further under the planning scheme |
| Open space zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.3.2 | A home-based business is not listed in the Open space zone, so it defaults to impact assessment and needs a development application. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Principal centre zone | No planning approval needed Tables 5.4.2.1.1–5.4.2.1.4 | Running a business from home is accepted development in this zone, so no development application is needed. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Not applicable |
| Rural zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.4.6.4 | if involving no more than two heavy vehicles and two heavy trailers stored on site at any one timeIf not met: a development application with impact assessment (neighbours can make submissions). | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Rural zone code |
| Special industry zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.5.4 | Home-based business is not listed for the Special industry zone, so it defaults to an impact-assessable development application. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Special purpose zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.6.6 | Home-based business is not listed in the Special purpose 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 |
| Specialised centre zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.4.2.6.1 | Running a home-based business in the Specialised centre zone is accepted and does not need a development application. | Nothing further under the planning scheme |
| Sport and recreation zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.4.3.1 | Home-based business not listed; defaults to 'any other use' | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: The planning scheme |
| Waterfront and marine industry zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.4.5.5.1 | if the reuse of existing building(s) or structure(s)If not met: a development application with impact assessment (neighbours can make submissions). | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Waterfront and marine industry zone code |
Overlays that change the answer
- Extractive resources overlay. A dwelling house, dwelling unit, caretaker's accommodation, home-based business or rural workers' accommodation that is accepted or accepted subject to requirements becomes code assessable. (Table 5.9.7)
Worth knowing in Rockhampton
IMPORTANT: The scheme's building work table (section 5.6) is 'Not applicable' — the scheme does NOT itself make domestic building work (sheds, carports, pools, fences, extensions, demolition) assessable in the base case. Those projects are generally 'accepted' under the planning scheme (no planning development application), but a building approval under the Building Act 1975 is almost always still required and must be obtained separately. Overlays (especially Flood, Character, Heritage) can change this — see overlay_triggers. Granny flats: the QPP 'Dwelling house' definition includes a secondary dwelling, so a granny flat follows the Dwelling house row of each zone; in residential/township/rural/rural residential/emerging community zones a dwelling house is 'accepted' (or 'accepted subject to requirements' in Emerging community and Rural), but in centre, industry, open space, sport & recreation, community facilities, special purpose, limited development and environmental zones a dwelling house is not listed and falls to the 'any other use' row = impact assessable. Minimum lot sizes for subdivision are set in Table 9.3.5.3.2 of the Reconfiguring a lot code, which was not reproduced in the material provided — specific numeric minimums per zone could not be extracted, so min_lot_size_m2 is null for all zones. Known thresholds: Emerging community = 10 hectares for code assessment; Rural = the minimum nominated in the Reconfiguring a lot code. Many zones have precincts and sub-precincts; the scheme states that for a precinct/sub-precinct the relevant (parent) zone categories apply for reconfiguring and operational work, but material-change-of-use tables can differ by precinct (e.g. Low density residential Fitzroy River accommodation precinct allows some small-scale commercial uses). Tree clearing: the scheme only regulates vegetation clearing as operational work via overlays (Biodiversity, etc.); the general operational work table (5.7.1) mainly covers filling/excavation and access/services works — most vegetation clearing is accepted under the scheme but the State Vegetation Management Act 1999 rules are separate and may still apply. Home-based business is 'accepted subject to requirements' in residential, township, rural, rural residential, industry and emerging community zones (meet the relevant zone code) and 'accepted' in centre zones.
What else you'll need
- Nothing beyond the planning scheme's own requirements.
More about Rockhampton
- What can you build in Rockhampton? Council overview and development applications
- Every Queensland zone explained, with what each council allows and the planning overlays that change the answer
- What Rockhampton Regional Council charges for a development application, compared with other councils
- A Landbrief site report for your Rockhampton address — every planning layer that applies to the lot
- Development applications in Parkhurst
- Development applications in Kawana
- Development applications in Park Avenue
- Development applications in Berserker
- Development applications in Frenchville
- Development applications in Gracemere
- Development applications in Koongal
- Development applications in Depot Hill
Other projects in Rockhampton
Granny flatDual occupancySubdivideShed or carportExtensionPoolFence or wallTownhousesShop, café or officeClear treesDemolish
The statewide position on this project: Home business in Queensland.
Read from the Rockhampton Region Planning Scheme 2015 (Version 5, 2025-03-28) 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.