BUSINESS NEWS - Launching a business from the comfort of your own home sounds idyllic: no traffic, flexible hours, and a fully stocked fridge just a few steps away.
But before you turn your spare room into a salon or your garage into a bakery, it’s essential to understand the legal, practical, and financial implications involved.
To maintain order and quality of life in neighbourhoods, local authorities have regulations that set out the types of business activities that are acceptable in residential areas.
In most municipalities, these zoning regulations, governed by the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act (SPLUMA) of 2013, stop you from running a business from home – unless you’ve received special permission.
Visit your local district planning office to find out what is required and how to proceed.
Tip: If you are looking for a more sustainable solution that could potentially add value to your property, consider having your property rezoned as mixed-use. While this process can be lengthy, rezoning offers long-term flexibility and legitimacy for your home-based venture because it permits both residential and commercial activity. Another option is to explore buying or renting a commercial property that’s already zoned for business.
Exceptions that prove the rule
Many micro-businesses are allowed to operate in residential zones without special permission if:
- the business takes up less than 50% of the property
- you continue to live in the property, which also continues to be used mainly for residential purposes
- the business doesn’t make a noise, bring traffic, disrupt, and/or disturb your neighbours
Article: Caxton publication, The Citizen
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