Home occupation - usually a primary right
A single resident working from home (e.g. consultant, writer, accountant) with no employees, no customers visiting, no external signage and no impact on neighbours is generally allowed as a primary right.
Home enterprise - usually consent use
A business with up to 2-5 employees, limited customer visits and modest signage typically requires a consent use. Examples: hair salons, small consultancies, tutoring, dressmakers, beauticians.
Home industry - usually rezoning
Larger businesses with significant impact (workshops, panel beaters, light manufacturing) usually need rezoning to a business or industrial category.
Limits and parameters
Most schemes cap home enterprises at 25% of the dwelling's floor area, with limited employees (often 2-3 max), restricted hours, no external storage, and modest signage. Cape Town's home enterprise consent typically caps at 50m² or 25% of floor area, whichever is less.
Penalties for non-compliance
Running an unauthorised business from home contravenes the zoning scheme and SPLUMA. Penalties include fines, cease orders and in extreme cases criminal charges.
Municipality-specific notes
Cape Town
City of Cape Town uses the Municipal Planning By-Law (MPBL, 2015) and the Development Management Scheme (DMS). Applications run through the eDevelopment Application Management System (eDAMS).
Johannesburg
City of Johannesburg operates under the Municipal Planning By-Law (2016) and the Joburg Town Planning Scheme. Applications lodge via the JoziPlan online portal.
Tshwane (Pretoria)
City of Tshwane uses the Tshwane Town-planning Scheme (2008) under the Land Use Management By-Law. The Spatial Planning division handles intake.
eThekwini (Durban)
eThekwini uses the eThekwini Town Planning Scheme administered under the KwaZulu-Natal Planning and Development Act and SPLUMA.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need consent to work from home as an employee?+
No. Working from home as an employee is not a business use and is not regulated.
Can I have customers visit my home business?+
Only under a consent use approval. Limit and conditions depend on the municipality.
What about Airbnb?+
Airbnb is treated as 'short-term letting' or 'guest house' use - see our Airbnb regulations guide.
Keep reading
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Airbnb Regulations in South Africa: What You Need to Know (2026)
South Africa's first national tourism Bill is changing Airbnb regulation in 2026. Here is what hosts need to know about zoning, body corporates, tax and the proposed 30-day cap.
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Guest House Approval Requirements in South Africa
Everything you need to legally operate a guest house in South Africa: consent use, grading, business licence, fire and health.
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