Starting or growing a business can seem complicated, but Northern Beaches Council makes the planning process simple. Whether you’re opening a café, gym, or home business, understanding the rules is essential.
Three ways to get approval
There are three main pathways to get your business planning approval:
- Exempt development – No planning permission needed for some minor changes or uses.
- Complying development – Fast-tracked approvals managed by council or a certified professional.
- Development application (DA) – The standard approval process for larger or more complex changes.
Not sure which one applies to your business? Contact our planning enquiry officer for tailored advice.
Understand zoning for your site
All land in NSW is divided into zones, such as residential, employment, or recreation zones. Use the NSW Planning Portal to check the zoning for your location.
Here’s how:
- Enter your site’s address in the portal.
- Click on the “land zoning map” to see permitted land uses.
- Check if your business fits the allowed use. If not, explore alternative locations.
Home businesses
If you operate from home, some businesses like tutoring or crafting may not need planning permission. However, others, such as food manufacturing, might require approval.
For more details, speak to our planning enquiry officer or email business@northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au.
Lodging a development application
If you need a DA:
- Gather required documents, including a statement of environmental effects (SEE) and site plans.
- Submit your application via the NSW Planning Portal.
- Council will assess your application and respond within two business days.
Real case studies
Check out some real case studies of local businesses who have navigated the planning system successfully to benefit their business.
Laura's florist: Changed a former office into a shop without DA approval
Laura wishes to open a florist in Newport. A florist is defined as a ‘shop’ and is permitted with consent in the E1 Local Centre Zone in Newport. From her research, Laura has found an existing development consent for the premises to operate as an office.
She checks the Codes SEPP and finds that a change of use from an ‘office’ to a ‘shop’ is an exempt development. Laura will not need to follow the DA or CDC process to change the use.
In terms of minor internal works to fit out the shop, including a new counter and some shelving, Laura can undertake these works without approval, as long as they meet the standards in the Codes SEPP for Minor building alterations (internal) or
Minor building alterations (external).
Andrew's gym: Required a DA due to noise and parking considerations
Andrew wishes to open a new cross fit gym in an industrial zone in Cromer. The premises he has found is zoned E4 General Industrial under the Warringah LEP 2011. A cross fit gym is a type of ‘recreational facility (indoor)’ and is a permitted in the E4 Zone.
The premises is used as a ‘warehouse and distribution centre’. Andrew checks the Codes SEPP and finds that a change of use to a ‘recreation facility (indoor)’ cannot occur as an exempt development. He also confirms that a complying development isn’t applicable, as his proposed business will not meet all the development standards under the SEPP.
Andrew, therefore, needs to submit a DA to Council.
When he begins this process, Andrew realises the site has no off-street parking and is across the road from a residential area. Given the early morning group classes, noise may also be generated.
This requires Andrew to submit a Traffic and Parking Assessment and Acoustic Report with this DA. Due to the change of building, he will also need to submit a Fire Safety and Building Code of Australia Report to let Council know the building can be safely occupied and can be upgraded to meet fire safety standards.
John's cafe: Used complying development for a simple setup & applied for outdoor dining
John is looking to open a cafe in Freshwater. There was an existing shop on the site and John firstly needs to check if a café is a permitted use within the Freshwater village, which is zoned E1 Local Centre.
John finds that cafes are a type of ‘food and drink premises’ and could be approved as a complying development. The Codes SEPP allows for change of use from a shop to a café under a complying development, with a series of development standards including maximum capacity of 100 patrons and design, construction and fit-out in accordance with food premises standards.
John will also need to notify Council of his business and food activities, appoint a food safety supervisor and meet Food Standard Code requirements set out by the NSW Food Authority.
As he wants to serve alcohol, he will need to apply to Liquor and Gaming NSW for an on-premises licence.
As the café becomes popular, John decides he would like to add some outdoor dining. John completes Council’s outdoor dining
application form, which is assessed against Council’s outdoor dining guidelines.