Those wishing to operate a home-based business need to obtain an approval from the permanent secretary responsible for town planning, states a gazette notice published on May 6 and authorised by Minister for Trade and Tourism Faiyaz Koya.
Home-based business is defined as a business operation that is permitted to operate from a residential area and does not include an industrial business operation.
They are listed as a canteen business, catering services from a residential property, consultancy services, including an advertising and marketing consultancy, tailoring and boutique, art and craft, including a painting business, beauty-related services, including a nail care service, mehndi or hair dressing, daycare or preschool, building design services, an online business and any other home-based business operation declared by the permanent secretary.
“Any person carrying out a home-based business operation must comply with the health and safety requirements under the Public Health Act 1935 and any other written law relevant to the home-based business operation,” states the gazette notice.
“The local authority responsible for a residential area in which a home-based business operation is carried out, is responsible for monitoring the home-based business operation.
“A home-based business operator must pay the applicable rates approved by the local authority.”