There is increasing recognition of the role home-based enterprises (HBEs) play in the socioeconomic
development of cities in developing countries. However, there appears to be
limited understanding of how housing designers and urban planners can provide support for
the survival of HBEs in developing countries. Data derived from two separate surveys of 160
and 517 households in urban areas of Osun and Ogun States, respectively in South-West
Nigeria were used to examine the prevalence of HBEs and how housing providers and urban
planners can respond to the need for HBEs by urban residents. The findings show that despite
differences in the educational and cultural „capital? that generally result in distinct differences
in domestic practices, the use of the domestic dwelling for small scale commercial activities
remains a prevailing component of housing in the study area. The predominant HBEs were
small scale retailing businesses found in dwellings occupied mostly by low and average
income households. The study explored the implications of HBEs for housing and urban
planning and it was concluded that an integrated approach involving the use of design and
planning strategies is required by housing designers and urban planners to integrate HBEs
with domestic spaces whilst mitigating the associated adverse environmental and health
consequences.