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Types of businesses

There are four types of home-based businesses that are permitted to operate in the City:

  • Home Office - where an occupier undertakes administrative work which does not entail clients or customers attending the house.
  • Home Occupation - where an occupier conducts a business that does not occupy an area greater than 20m2 and does not employ anyone who is not a member of the household.
  • Home Business - where an occupier conducts a business from their home that does not occupy an area greater than 50m2 and is permitted to employ up to two people who are not members of the household.
  • Rural Home Business - where an occupier conducts a business from their home that does not occupy an area greater than 200m2 and is permitted to employ up to two people who are not members of the household.

Common examples of home-based businesses include hair and beauty services, cake making and massage therapy.

Approval process

As a guide, the following approvals are typically required if you are intending to operate a home-based business:

Step 1 - Requirements of a Home-based Business

All Home Based Businesses must be carried out by a resident of the dwelling and must be carried out within the premises of the dwelling. It must not adversely affect the amenity of the surrounding locality.

Step 2 - Development Application

A Development Application is not required for a Home Office or Home Occupation, but is required for a Home Business and a Rural Home Business.

Home OccupationHome Business/Rural Home Business
Does not employ anyone not a member of the occupiers householdDoes not employ more than two people not members of the occupier's household
Does not occupy an area greater than 20m2

Home Business does not occupy an area greater than 50m2

Rural Home Business does not occupy an area greater than 200m2

Will not adversely affect the amenity of the neighbourhoodWill not adversely affect the amenity of the neighbourhood
Does not involve the retail sale, display or hire of goods of any nature, except for internet and/or postal transactionsDoes not involve the retail sale, display or hire of goods of any nature, except for internet and/or postal transactions

You can seek an exemption to operate a Home Office or a Home Occupation without Development Approval under the Planning and Development (Local Planning Schemes) Regulations 2015.

The City must be notified within seven days of the Home Office or Home Occupation commencing operation that it is exempt from the need for Development Approval. To confirm an exemption, please complete the below exemption letter and attach to your small business enquiry.

Note: Although a Home Occupation may be exempt from the need to obtain Development Approval from Planning, please note Building and Health approvals may still be required dependant on the nature of the Home Occupation (ie hair dressing, cake making etc).

Related documents

Development Approval is required to operate your Home Business or Rural Home Business.

To apply, please read Planning Policy 3.3.10 - Home Businesses and Rural Home Businesses and complete the below application forms and use our online portal Rock Port, to lodge your application.

Lodge a development application

Related documents

Step 3 - Building Permit

A Building Permit is required for any building work involving the construction of new buildings, and extensions or alterations such as the installation of new doors, windows and walls.

If the total value of the work exceeds $20,000, a permit is issued to a registered builder, or an owner-builder. To become an owner-builder, you must first obtain owner-builder approval from the Building Services Boards, and then a Building Permit from the City.

A Building Permit application must be accompanied by:

  • A completed application for Building Permit either Certified (BA1) or Uncertified (BA2);
  • Copies of all relevant plans and specifications; and
  • Payment of required fees.

You can use our online portal, Rock Port, to lodge your application. First time users will need to create a new account for the online lodgement of a building application. Existing users can log in with their existing Rock Port account. Alternatively, you can submit your application in person at our Administration Office located on Civic Boulevard, Rockingham.

Submit a building application

Visit the Building Commission website to access all Building Permit application forms you need to submit to us. We are happy to discuss your project before you commence the process so you are clear on what you need to do. For any queries please contact Building Services on 9528 0333.

Building Commission website

Step 4 - Health Approvals

  • Approval is required to prepare food from your home for sale to the public. An authorised officer will assess your application to determine if your kitchen is suitable for the preparation of food for sale. Only some types of low risk food may be prepared in a domestic kitchen for sale to the public.

    Other food may be considered for approval following a written application to the City. In some instances, if the production of a low risk food product is considered of large scale, you may be required to use a separate commercial kitchen.

    Related document

    Free food safety training courses

    We take food hygiene very seriously and we are assisting food businesses to meet their obligations by providing free access to an online training tool. 

    I'm Alert Food SafetyFood Safety logo

    The program reflects the basic food safety principles and is easy to follow. It also includes an entertaining presentation and interactive quizzes. Chinese text and captions are available.

    I'm Alert Food Safety training

     

    FoodSafe Online FoodSafe logo

    The City of Rockingham in conjunction with Environmental Health Australia (EHA) provides a new comprehensive training tool called FoodSafe Online. The course is flexible, in-house training, which covers all aspects of food safety relevant to the hospitality and food service industry to maintain the highest standard in food safety and hygiene. 

    On the payment page use the City's unique discount voucher "FSROCKI316" and you will receive FoodSafe Online free of charge. Once completed, a Training Acknowledgement Form can be printed and retained for your staff records.

    FoodSafe Online

    FoodSafe Training Pack

    FoodSafe Training Pack is an in-house training program developed by the Australian Institute of Environmental Health to help businesses meet their food safety requirements by documenting cleaning and pest control, monitoring temperatures of food, and recording and monitoring deliveries. The program has recently upgraded to better reflect current standard and provide a clear guide for food allergens.

    The training package contains a video, workbook with questionnaires, and an ongoing proprietor workbook (on USB). For more information or to obtain a FoodSafe Package, please contact us on 9528 0333 or email customer@rockingham.wa.gov.au.

    Food Safety Newsletter

    We publish the Food Safety Newsletter for all local businesses to provide the latest information and helpful tips in safe food handling and food safety practice. We encourage you to have a read and to share the newsletter with all staff members.

    If you would like to see any particular topics discussed, please contact us by email on customer@rockingham.wa.gov.au or call 9528 0333 with any feedback or suggestions.

    Related document

  • Approval is required from our Health Services to conduct a personal appearance/beauty therapy business from your home. An Environmental Health Officer will assess your application to determine if your proposed premises are suitable for the use of a home personal appearance/beauty therapy.

    Your application must include:

    • all the procedures you intend to undertake
    • a completed Personal Appearance Procedures Notification Form
    • a detailed cleaning/maintenance schedule
    • proposed disinfection/sterilisation techniques and
    • a floor plan detailing all structure and furniture surface finishes, the location of fittings, furniture and sinks.

    The room that you intend for your home business must include a hands-free hand wash basin in the immediate area. The hand wash basin must be located in the same room as the procedures, or if the room immediately joins an ensuite without a connecting door, then an ensuite hands-free hand wash basin may be considered.

    Additional information can be accessed from the Department of Health WA website.

    The Code of Practice for Skin Penetration Procedures 1998 is available to be viewed on the Department of Health website.

    Hairdresser/Barbers please note:

    Changes to legislation have meant that hairdressing and barber activities are no longer required to be registered or routinely inspected by the City’s Health Services.

    Hairdressing and barber operators are now captured by the general public health duty of the Public Health Act 2016, and must take all reasonable and practicable steps to prevent or minimise any harm to public health that might foreseeably result from anything done or omitted to be done by a person.

    The Department of Health has released a Guideline for the management of public health risks associated with the hairdressing and barber industry which aims to:

    • Provide practical advice to assist the hairdressing industry to meet their obligations under the general public health duty specified in Part 3 of the Public Health Act 2016; and
    • Promote a high standard of hygiene and infection prevention and control to ensure hairdressing services prevent the spread of blood-borne viruses and other infections to their clients.

    While the City’s Health Services will no longer conduct routine inspections of hairdressing or barber premises, it will respond to any public complaints received and take any action as necessary under the Act.

    Please note – there are no changes to the regulation of beauty and/or skin penetration procedures. Hairdressing businesses that conduct any beauty or skin penetration activities are still required to be registered and inspected by the City.

    The Public Health Act 2016 can be viewed on the Department of Justice website.

    Related documents

Step 5 - Health Inspection

Prior to commencing operation, an inspection will need to be undertaken to ensure the premises meets the required standards.  When you are ready to commence operations, please contact Health Services on 9528 0333 to arrange for this inspection – please allow 48 hours for the inspection to be scheduled.

Ongoing routine inspections will be conducted once the business is operational to ensure that suitable standards are maintained.

Related document

Step 6 - Open your Business

As a new and developing business there are a number of useful resources and information available intended to provide additional support and guidance.

Small Business Development Corporation

The Small Business Development Corporation is an independent statutory authority with its mission to deliver and facilitate relevant, practical support to small businesses and to foster the development of policy conducive to the growth of the small business sector. The Small Business Development Corporation is working towards creating a strong and enterprising small business sector in Western Australia.

Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of WA is a member-driven organisation providing quality information, professional services and support for businesses. Its mission is to make it easier to do business in the state and ensure that WA is a place where businesses of all shapes and sizes can succeed.

Australian Government

Business.gov.au is an online Australian Government resource which provides a wide range of business information and assistance with regard to starting a business, running a business or exiting a business. This site also offers grants and assistance for business owners at all stages of their business timeline.

Australian Business License and Information Service

The Australian Business License and Information Service helps business operators and people considering starting a business to identify the types of licenses, permits, approvals, regulations and codes of practice required or in place for the relevant state, territory, local and Australian government.

Submit an enquiry

If you still have any queries or questions on your small business proposal, or you have a proposal plan that you would like to discuss further, please submit your enquiry or indicative proposal to us.

Submit an enquiry or indicative proposal

See also

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Administration address
Civic Boulevard, Rockingham WA 6168

Mailing address
PO BOX 2142, Rockingham DC WA 6967

Phone
(08) 9528 0333

Email
customer@rockingham.wa.gov.au

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