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Setting up an office

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Find out what approvals you need to consider when setting up an office on your property.

What is an office?

Brisbane City Plan 2014 (City Plan) defines an office as the use of premises for:

  • running an administrative, secretarial or management service 
  • the practice of a profession.

If you’re setting up an office, you must make sure its main function is:

  • providing business or professional advice
  • providing office-based administration for an organisation.

Common examples of an office use include:

  • banks
  • real estate agent
  • administration building.

Businesses that aren’t classified as an office include:

  • home-based business
  • home office
  • shop
  • outdoor sales.

An office does not include the use of premises for making, selling or hiring goods.

Looking for something else

Business services

Business hubs

Home office

What you need to know

Before you set up an office on your property, you need to:

  • find key facts about your property
  • know the preferred locations 
  • determine any approvals you may need.

Find key property facts

Use the mapping tool in City Plan online to find key facts about your property. This includes:

  • zoning
  • neighbourhood plans
  • overlays.

Preferred locations

City Plan enables offices to be located in:

Determine the type of approval you need

When setting up an office, you may need:

  • planning approval
  • building approval.

Planning approval

Not all offices need Council approval. To determine if your proposal requires planning approval, phone Council on 07 3403 8888 and ask to speak to a Planning Information Officer.

Building approval

You may need to seek advice if you’re planning to undertake building works, or if you’re planning to occupy an existing building that was not designed, built or adapted to be used as an office.

Get advice from a licensed private building certifier or building consultant for:

  • building work for a new or existing building
  • any building approval that is required.

Other things to consider

Other approvals

You may need to apply for additional approvals for your office, including advertising signage approval.

More advice

You may need to get advice from Council about your office if:

  • it requires planning approval 
  • the premises are located within a neighbourhood plan or overlay area.

Phone our Business Hotline on 133 BNE (133 263).