Permits & Registration

Do I need a Planning Permit?

To protect lifestyle amenity of your neighbours, what you are allowed to do as a business is controlled by planning zones. These zones may impact on what you want to do, and may even prohibit what you are looking at doing in a particular location.

As an initial step you can distinguish between whether your business venture will be operated from home i.e. a home-occupation or home based business or from commercial or other premises. 

Home occupation or home based business

If your proposed business is to be located in a residential area or run from a residential premises you will need to meet Council’s requirements for home based businesses.  This can include, but are not limited to; a home-based office, computer repairs, plumbers, builders etc, and are best summed up as; a business where the management or control is run from the home even though the majority of work may be carried out at different locations, with your business being there as a contractor or consultant.

The Baw Baw Shire Council has guidelines detailing what is a home based business, and what you can do 'as of right' without any need for a planning permit, activities when you may need a planning permit and what is prohibited as a home based business.

The  Baw Baw Planning Scheme provisions for ‘Home Occupation’ can be found at 

http://planningschemes.dpcd.vic.gov.au/bawbaw/home.html

Select the drop-down box with the heading 50 Particular Provisions and then select 52.11 Home Occupation.

Non- home based business

If you intend to establish a business within a non-residential zone, for example in an industrial area or retail area, you may still need a planning permit even though what you intend to do is similar to an earlier use of the property. 

For further information on whether you require a planning permit to undertake your proposal please contact Council’s Planning Department on ph: +61 3 56242411.

Access Planning permit Application forms

Do I need a Building Permit?

Please note the Baw Baw Shire Council no longer issues building permits. Where required it is the responsibility of the business to obtain a building permit through a private building surveyor.

Business Registration

Do I need to register my food, accommodation and health / beauty therapy type business?

Council has a statutory requirement to register and monitor a number of business types which include those involved in food and beverage preparation for sale, accommodation such as bed & breakfast, farm stay, rooming houses, as well as those that provide hair and beauty, piercing and tattooing services.

While you are working through your business proposal you should contact Council’s Public Health Unit to discuss the legal requirements of the business and to determine what structural standards are required for the business activity. These standards may be detailed under the Food Standards Code Australia New Zealand, the Public Health & Well Being Regulations (Accommodation) under the Health & Well Being Act; health guidelines for beauty and body art industries.

Council conducts inspections of these businesses each year to ensure compliance with the appropriate standard.