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Abbotsford home-based business rules

Can I run a business from my home?

Abbotsford, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

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.

Key facts

AllowedYes, 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.Zoning Bylaw No. 2400-2014, Section 350 Urban Residential Zone (RS3), s. 350.1 (RS3); https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400340, s. 340.1 (RS1); https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400351, s. 351.1 (SSMUH 1); https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400380, s. 380.1 (RS6); Zoning Bylaw 2400-2014, Section 310 Rural Residential Zone (RR), s. 310.1 (RR); Zoning Bylaw 2400-2014, Section 140 General Regulations, s. 140.3.5(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
.7 Home Occupation – Level 2
.7 Home Occupation Use – Level 2
.10 Home Occupation – Level 1
.11 Home Occupation – Level 2
.5 Home Occupation – Level 1
.10 Home Occupation - Level 3, on a Lot outside the Agricultural Land Reserve
Where permitted, all Home Occupation – Level 1 Uses shall:
Business licenceYes. 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.Business Licence Bylaw No. 1551-2006 (consolidated, last amended July 15, 2025), Schedule B; s. 6.2, 6.7, 11.1; Business Licences, Business Licences page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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
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.
LimitsLevel 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.Zoning Bylaw 2400-2014, Section 140 General Regulations, s. 140.3.5(a)-(d); Zoning Bylaw 2400-2014, Section 150 Parking, s. 150.3, Table 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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;
Level 2 – 1 additional Parking Space for a non-Resident
Level 3 and 4 – 2 additional Parking Spaces for non-
Businesses not allowedNo 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.Zoning Bylaw 2400-2014, Section 140 General Regulations, s. 140.3.5(b)-(d), 140.3.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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
BylawZoning 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.Zoning Bylaw 2400-2014, Section 140 General Regulations, s. 140.3.5; Business Licence Bylaw No. 1551-2006 (consolidated, last amended July 15, 2025), s. 11.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Home Occupation (B/L 3246-2022)
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

How it works

The City of Abbotsford's Zoning Bylaw (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

The same question in other places

Mission · Township of Langley · Chilliwack · Langley City · Maple Ridge · Pitt Meadows

Home-based business rules in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Zoning Bylaw 2400-2014, Section 140 General Regulations (read 2026-11-05)
  2. Business Licences, City of Abbotsford (read 2026-11-05)
  3. Business Licence Bylaw No. 1551-2006 (consolidated, last amended July 15, 2025) (read 2026-11-05)
  4. Zoning Bylaw 2400-2014, Section 150 Parking (read 2026-11-05)
  5. Zoning Bylaw No. 2400-2014, Section 350 Urban Residential Zone (RS3) (read 2026-11-05)
  6. https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400340 (read 2026-11-05)
  7. https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400351 (read 2026-11-05)
  8. https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2014b2400380 (read 2026-11-05)
  9. Zoning Bylaw 2400-2014, Section 310 Rural Residential Zone (RR) (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. How answers are checked.