---
title: Abbotsford home-based business rules
question: "Can I run a business from my home?"
place: Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/abbotsford
category: Starting and running a business
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Abbotsford
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/home-based-business/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/home-based-business.json"
---

# Abbotsford home-based business rules

**Question:** Can I run a business from my home?

**Short answer:** Yes, in Abbotsford, where your zone lists a home occupation as an accessory use. It needs a City business licence ($130 a year, plus a $25 administration fee for a new application) and must follow the Zoning Bylaw's four levels of home occupation, which limit size, employees, signs and customers.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Abbotsford, https://www.abbotsford.ca)  
**Cost:** $130 a year for an accessory home occupation licence, plus a $25 administration fee for a new application. Farm equipment repair as a home occupation is $303. The fee, less the administration fee, is refunded if requested within 3 months of issue.  
**How long:** Allow a minimum of 2 to 3 weeks for a business licence. Valid for 12 months.  
**Where:**
- Online: New Business Licence Application, https://www.abbotsford.ca/business-development/business-licences/application
- Phone: Business Licence Division, 604-864-5525
- Email: Business Licence Division, businesslicence@abbotsford.ca

## Key facts

- **Allowed:** Yes, where the zone lists a home occupation as an accessory use, at the level it names (Level 1 to 4). Examples: RS1 and RS3 allow Level 2; SSMUH 1 allows Levels 1 and 2; RS6 allows Level 1; RR allows Level 3 outside the ALR. Check your zone.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2400-2014, Section 350 Urban Residential Zone (RS3), s. 350.1 (RS3)](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400350)
  - Official wording: ".7 Home Occupation – Level 2"
  - Source: [https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400340, s. 340.1 (RS1)](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400340)
  - Official wording: ".7 Home Occupation Use – Level 2"
  - Source: [https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400351, s. 351.1 (SSMUH 1)](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400351)
  - Official wording: ".10 Home Occupation – Level 1" … ".11 Home Occupation – Level 2"
  - Source: [https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400380, s. 380.1 (RS6)](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400380)
  - Official wording: ".5 Home Occupation – Level 1"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 2400-2014, Section 310 Rural Residential Zone (RR), s. 310.1 (RR)](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400310)
  - Official wording: ".10 Home Occupation - Level 3, on a Lot outside the Agricultural Land Reserve"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 2400-2014, Section 140 General Regulations, s. 140.3.5(a)](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400140)
  - Official wording: "Where permitted, all Home Occupation – Level 1 Uses shall:"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Business licence:** Yes. An accessory home occupation licence costs $130 a year, plus a $25 administration fee for a new application. The fee, less the admin fee, is refunded if asked for within 3 months of issue. Home business signs need no sign permit but must follow the Sign Bylaw.
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1551-2006 (consolidated, last amended July 15, 2025), Schedule B; s. 6.2, 6.7, 11.1](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2006b1551bylaw)
  - Official wording: "Accessory $130.00 Home Occupation" … "Administration fee; additional copy of an issued licences $25.00" … "shall be refunded to the licence holder where the" … "An accessory home occupation business shall comply with Section 140.2.3 of the City of"
  - Source: [Business Licences, Business Licences page](https://www.abbotsford.ca/business-development/business-licences)
  - Official wording: "Signs for home-based businesses do not require permits, but must comply with the regulations as outlined for Identification Signs in the Sign Bylaw No. 3429-2023."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Limits:** Level 1: inside the dwelling, residents only, no customer visits, no signs. Level 2: up to 50 m², one non-resident employee, one 0.4 m² sign. Levels 3 and 4: up to 112 m², two non-resident employees, one 1.2 m² sign. No outside storage at any level; parking for employees at Levels 2 to 4.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 2400-2014, Section 140 General Regulations, s. 140.3.5(a)-(d)](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400140)
  - Official wording: "not generate customer visits; and" … "limit the size to a floor area of 50 m2;" … "be carried out exclusively by a Resident of the principal Dwelling Unit in" … "not more than one non-Resident employee" … "have a maximum of one sign, with a maximum area of 0.4 m2." … "limit the size to a floor area of 112 m2;" … "not more than two non-Resident employees" … "have a maximum of one sign, with a maximum area of 1.2 m2." … "not have outside storage of materials, commodities, or finished products;"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 2400-2014, Section 150 Parking, s. 150.3, Table 1](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400150)
  - Official wording: "Level 2 – 1 additional Parking Space for a non-Resident" … "Level 3 and 4 – 2 additional Parking Spaces for non-"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Businesses not allowed:** No repair or maintenance of automobiles, recreational vehicles or commercial vehicles at Levels 2 to 4 (farm vehicle repair only in agricultural zones at Levels 3 and 4). Level 4 may not dispatch automobiles or commercial vehicles. A boarding house cannot run on the same lot as a home occupation.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 2400-2014, Section 140 General Regulations, s. 140.3.5(b)-(d), 140.3.3](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400140)
  - Official wording: "not include the repair or maintenance of automobiles, farm vehicles," … "not include the dispatch of automobiles or Commercial Vehicles;" … "limit commercial repair and maintenance of farm motor vehicles, farm equipment" … "Residential Care, Supported Housing or a Home Occupation"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw, 2014 (Bylaw No. 2400-2014), s. 140.3.5 (Home Occupation); Business Licence Bylaw, 2006 (Bylaw No. 1551-2006), s. 11.1 and Schedule B.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 2400-2014, Section 140 General Regulations, s. 140.3.5](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400140)
  - Official wording: "Home Occupation (B/L 3246-2022)"
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1551-2006 (consolidated, last amended July 15, 2025), s. 11.1](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2006b1551bylaw)
  - Official wording: "P ART 11 - S PECIFIC R EGULATIONS Accessory Home Occupation 11.1 An accessory home occupation business shall comply with Section 140.2.3 of the City of" … "Business Licence Bylaw, 2006 Bylaw No. 1551-2006 [Consolidated and printed by authority of the Corporate Officer under section 139 of the Community Charter. Includes amendment bylaws"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The City of Abbotsford's [Zoning Bylaw](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400140) (s. 140.3.5) allows a home occupation where your zone lists it as an accessory use, at the level it names (Level 1 to 4). For example, RS1 and RS3 allow Level 2; SSMUH 1 allows Levels 1 and 2; RS6 allows Level 1; RR allows Level 3 outside the Agricultural Land Reserve. Check your zone. Level 1 is also allowed, by residents only, inside a secondary suite, garden suite or coach house.

## Steps

1. Find your zone (see the zoning-lookup answer) and read which level it allows.
2. Apply online for a business licence using the accessory home occupation type.
3. Pay the $130 fee and the $25 administration fee. The City may contact you if it needs more documents.

## Good to know

- **Level 1:** inside the dwelling, residents only, no customer visits, no signs.
- **Level 2:** up to 50 m², one non-resident employee, one 0.4 m² sign.
- **Levels 3 and 4:** up to 112 m², two non-resident employees, one 1.2 m² sign.
- No outside storage at any level. Levels 2 to 4 need parking for employees and must not cause offensive noise, vibration, traffic, smoke, dust, odours, heat, glare or interference, or change the home's residential look.
- Levels 2 to 4 may not repair or maintain automobiles, recreational vehicles or commercial vehicles (farm vehicle repair is allowed only in agricultural zones at Levels 3 and 4). Level 4 may not dispatch vehicles.
- A boarding house cannot run on the same lot. Home child care cannot run on a lot with a Level 2 or higher home occupation.
- Home business signs need no sign permit but must follow the Sign Bylaw.
- The City's 2025 Home Occupation Information PDF is a scanned image and was not read. The Business Licence Bylaw cites an older zoning section number; the rules are in s. 140.3.5.

## Official forms and pages

- [Zoning Bylaw 2400-2014, Section 140 (s. 140.3.5 Home Occupation)](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400140)
- [Business Licence Bylaw 1551-2006](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2006b1551bylaw)
- [2025 Home Occupation Information (scanned PDF, not read)](https://www.abbotsford.ca/sites/default/files/2025-07/2025%20Home%20Occupation%20Information.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Abbotsford business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/business-licence.md)
- [Abbotsford short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/short-term-rental.md)
- [Abbotsford zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/zoning-lookup.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Home-based business rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/home-based-business.md)
- [Mission](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mission/home-based-business.md)
- [Township of Langley](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley-township/home-based-business.md)
- [Chilliwack](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chilliwack/home-based-business.md)
- [Langley City](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley/home-based-business.md)
- [Maple Ridge](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/maple-ridge/home-based-business.md)
- [Pitt Meadows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pitt-meadows/home-based-business.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw 2400-2014, Section 140 General Regulations](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400140) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Business Licences, City of Abbotsford](https://www.abbotsford.ca/business-development/business-licences) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1551-2006 (consolidated, last amended July 15, 2025)](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2006b1551bylaw) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning Bylaw 2400-2014, Section 150 Parking](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400150) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 2400-2014, Section 350 Urban Residential Zone (RS3)](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400350) (read 2026-11-05)
- [https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400340](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400340) (read 2026-11-05)
- [https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400351](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400351) (read 2026-11-05)
- [https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400380](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400380) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning Bylaw 2400-2014, Section 310 Rural Residential Zone (RR)](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400310) (read 2026-11-05)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 5 facts was matched to the official text. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Abbotsford. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/home-based-business/_