Running a business from home in Scenic Rim — do you need approval?
Scenic Rim Regional Council's planning scheme — the Scenic Rim Planning Scheme 2020 — 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. A home-based business is accepted if it meets the Home Based Business Code and avoids non-minor industrial activities, otherwise a development application is 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 5.5.8.1 | if not involving industrial activities other than minor industrial activitiesIf not met: a development application with impact assessment (neighbours can make submissions). | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Home Based Business Code |
| Low-medium Density Residential Zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.5.9.1 | if not involving industrial activities other than minor industrial activitiesIf not met: a development application with impact assessment (neighbours can make submissions). | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Home Based Business Code |
| Emerging Community Zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.5.4.1 | If not involving industrial activities other than minor industrial activitiesIf not met: a development application with impact assessment (neighbours can make submissions). | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Home Based Business Code |
| Rural Residential Zone - (Where no precinct applies) | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.5.16.1 | if not involving industrial activities other than minor industrial activitiesIf not met: a development application with impact assessment (neighbours can make submissions). | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Home Based Business Code |
| Rural Residential Zone - Rural Residential A Precinct | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.5.16.2 | not involving industrial activities other than minor industrial activitiesIf not met: a development application with impact assessment (neighbours can make submissions). | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Home Based Business Code |
| Township Zone - (Where no precinct applies) | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.5.19.1 | if not involving industrial activities other than minor industrial activities | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Home Based Business Code |
| Township Zone - Township Residential Precinct | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.5.19.2 | if not involving Industrial activities other than minor industrial activities | 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 5.5.1.1 | Home based business is not listed in the Community Facilities Zone table | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: The Planning Scheme |
| Conservation Zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.5.2.1 | Home based business is not listed in the Conservation Zone table | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: The Planning Scheme |
| District Centre Zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.5.3.1 | If not involving industrial activities other than minor industrial activitiesIf not met: a development application with impact assessment (neighbours can make submissions). | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Home Based Business Code |
| Industry Zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.5.5.1 | Home based business is not listed in the Industry 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 |
| Limited Development Zone - (Where no precinct applies) | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.5.6.1 | 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 |
| Limited Development Zone - Flood Land Precinct | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.5.6.2 | Home based business is not listed in this precinct, so it falls under 'any other use' and needs an impact-assessable development application. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: The Planning Scheme |
| Limited Development Zone - Historical Subdivision Precinct | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.5.6.3 | if not involving industrial activities other than minor industrial activitiesIf not met: a development application with impact assessment (neighbours can make submissions). | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Home Based Business Code |
| Local Centre Zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.5.7.1 | if not involving industrial activities other than minor industrial activitiesIf not met: a development application with impact assessment (neighbours can make submissions). | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Home Based Business Code |
| Major Centre Zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.5.10.1 | if not involving industrial activities other than minor industrial activitiesIf not met: a development application with impact assessment (neighbours can make submissions). | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Home Based Business Code |
| Major Tourism Zone | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.5.11.1 | Home based business is not listed in the Major Tourism Zone table, so it falls under the 'any other use' default and requires an impact-assessable development application. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: The Planning Scheme |
| Minor Tourism Zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.5.12.1 | if not involving industrial activities other than minor industrial activities | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Home Based Business Code |
| Mixed Use Zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.5.13.1 | if not involving industrial activities other than minor industrial activities | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Home Based Business Code |
| Mixed Use Zone - Commercial Industry Precinct | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.5.13.2 | Home based business is not listed in the Commercial Industrial Precinct table, so it defaults to impact assessment and needs a development application. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: The Planning Scheme |
| Neighbourhood Centre Zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.5.14.1 | if not involving industrial activities other than minor industrial activitiesIf not met: a development application with impact assessment (neighbours can make submissions). | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Home Based Business Code |
| Recreation and Open Space Zone - (Where no precinct applies) | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.5.15.1 | Home based business is not listed in this 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 |
| Recreation and Open Space Zone - Passive Recreation Precinct | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.5.15.2 | Home based business is not listed in this precinct, 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 |
| Rural Zone - (Where no precinct applies) | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.5.17.1 | A home business is accepted without a development application provided it meets the Home Based Business Code. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Home Based Business Code |
| Rural Zone - Rural Escarpment Protection Precinct | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.5.17.2 | A home business is accepted without a development application provided it meets the Home Based Business Code. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Home Based Business Code |
| Rural Zone - Tamborine Mountain Rural Precinct | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.5.17.3 | A home business is accepted without a development application provided it meets the Home Based Business Code. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: Home Based Business Code |
| Special Purpose Zone - (Where no precinct applies) | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.5.18.1 | A home based business is not listed for this zone, so under the default 'any other use' row it needs an impact-assessable development application. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: The Planning Scheme |
| Special Purpose Zone - Bromelton State Development Area Precinct | It depends — see below Section 5.5.18 | This precinct's material change of use is assessed under Part 10 (Other Plans), not the zone table, so refer to that plan for whether a home business needs a development application. | Nothing further under the planning scheme |
| Special Purpose Zone - Bulk Water Storage Facilities Precinct | Needs a development application (impact assessment — neighbours can make submissions) Table 5.5.18.1 | A home based business is not listed for this precinct, so under the default 'any other use' row it needs an impact-assessable development application. | Nothing further under the planning schemeAssessed against: The Planning Scheme |
Overlays that change the answer
- Bushfire Hazard Overlay (OM-03). Dwelling house/dual occupancy on a lot under 2000m² (residential zone) and domestic outbuildings stay accepted; otherwise a dwelling house or dual occupancy becomes Accepted subject to requirements, and other uses (and bed & breakfast/home childcare) become code assessable against the Bushfire Hazard Overlay Code. Reconfiguring a lot is code assessable. (5.10 Bushfire Hazard Overlay Map OM-03)
- Landslide Hazard and Steep Slope Overlay - Steep Slope (OM-07-A). Domestic outbuildings stay accepted; a dwelling house, dual occupancy or home based business (not B&B/childcare) in a 15.1-25% slope area becomes Accepted subject to requirements, and any other use becomes code assessable against the Landslide Hazard and Steep Slope Overlay Code. Filling/excavation and vegetation clearing above thresholds are code assessable. Reconfiguring a lot is code assessable. (5.10 Landslide Hazard and Steep Slope Overlay Map - Steep Slope OM-07-A)
- Local Heritage Overlay (OM-08). In a Local Heritage Place, material change of use, reconfiguring a lot, and building work or operational work not associated with an MCU all become code assessable against the Local Heritage Overlay Code (so renovations, outbuildings and demolition need a development application). (5.10 Local Heritage Overlay Map OM-08)
- Water Resource Catchments Overlay (OM-10-A). A dwelling house, dual occupancy and home based business stay accepted in a water supply buffer/catchment area; most other uses become Accepted subject to requirements and listed higher-impact uses become code assessable against the Water Resource Catchments Overlay Code. Clearing of native vegetation (non-exempt) is Accepted subject to requirements, and reconfiguring a lot creating additional lots is code assessable. (5.10 Water Resource Catchments Overlay Map - Catchment Areas OM-10-A)
Worth knowing in Scenic Rim
Section 5.7 states there is no building work regulated by the planning scheme, so sheds/carports, extensions, pools, fences and demolition are not assessable development under the scheme in the base case (a Building Act approval from a building certifier is still required) — EXCEPT where an overlay changes this (e.g. Airport Environs, Local Heritage, Flood, Landslide/Steep Slope overlays can make building work Accepted subject to requirements or code assessable). Local utility uses are Accepted in every zone and under every overlay. For subdivision, the 'minimum lot size' noted is the threshold at which ROL is code assessable rather than impact assessable; Low Density and Low-medium Density Residential zones rely on the minimum average lot size in Table 9.4.6.3.2 (not reproduced here) and Rural Residential/Rural thresholds depend on identification on Minimum Lot Size Overlay Map OM-13. Dual occupancy lot-size thresholds differ by precinct and by reticulated sewerage connection (e.g. Township Zone 2000m² sewered / 8000m² unsewered accepted-subject-to-requirements). Precincts are treated as separate zone rows where the scheme publishes a separate table of assessment. Transport Noise Corridor (OM-12), Minimum Lot Size (OM-13), Higher Order Road (OM-14), Road Hierarchy (OM-15), Flood Category Area (OM-6-B) and Streams and Dams (OM-10-B) overlays are information/administrative only and do not change the category of assessment.
What else you'll need
- Nothing beyond the planning scheme's own requirements.
More about Scenic Rim
- What can you build in Scenic Rim? Council overview and development applications
- Every Queensland zone explained, with what each council allows and the planning overlays that change the answer
- What Scenic Rim Regional Council charges for a development application, compared with other councils
- A Landbrief site report for your Scenic Rim address — every planning layer that applies to the lot
- Development applications in Beaudesert
- Development applications in Tamborine Mountain
- Development applications in Gleneagle
- Development applications in Kalbar
- Development applications in Tamborine
- Development applications in Benobble
- Development applications in Boonah
- Development applications in Canungra
Other projects in Scenic Rim
Granny flatDual occupancySubdivideShed or carportExtensionPoolFence or wallTownhousesShop, café or officeClear treesDemolish
The statewide position on this project: Home business in Queensland.
Read from the Scenic Rim Planning Scheme 2020 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.