Four-year-old boy battles council to keep fruit and veggie stand open

A savvy four-year-old selling fruit in his yard has been cracked down on — with the future of the mini businessman’s stall now in doubt.

A savvy four-year-old selling fruit and vegetables in his own front yard has been cracked down on by his local council — with the future of the mini businessman’s thriving stall now in doubt.

The products Leo Sanchez offers from his stall in Gatton, a rural town west of Brisbane, have minor blemishes but are deemed unsellable for supermarkets.

“This produce would end up in landfill or as animal feed,” his mother Barbara Sanchez told 7NEWS.

Leo’s mum Barbara Sanchez is in talks with the Lockyer Valley Regional Council. Picture: 7NEWS

“The idea is for him to mark the price as little as possible – enough for him to have his savings and provide to the community.”

And his mother says business was thriving until the family was told by the Lockyer Valley Regional Council that a complaint about Leo’s shop had been made.

The written complaint centred on the council’s Planning Scheme, which includes rules against setting up businesses in residential areas.

According to the rules, home-based businesses must be “small scale” and not “visually intrusive”.

Leo offers a wide array of fruit and vegetables. Picture: Facebook

Leo’s fruit and vegetable stand in Gatton has been up and running for more than a year. Picture: Facebook

“The use, including any display of goods and storage of equipment or materials, takes place in an enclosed building or is screened such that it is not visible from a public place (eg road) or adjoining property,” the policy reads.

While the shop was not closed down by the council, the complaint has devastated Leo and his family who have met twice with council with no resolution.

“At this stage, we don’t know what the future of the shop will be,” Ms Sanchez said.

Lockyer Valley Regional Council Mayor Tanya Milligan told news.com.au that at “no point has Council closed the stall and our team continues to work closely with Leo’s family to achieve a desired result for all parties”.

“The intent of the Planning Scheme is not to prevent the likes of a kid’s lemonade stall or family-run operation, but is rather designed to ensure consistency is established and maintained across the region,” she said.

Originally published as Four-year-old boy battles council to keep fruit and veggie stand open