---
title: Central Saanich home-based business rules
question: "Can I run a business from my home?"
place: Central Saanich, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/central-saanich
category: Starting and running a business
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Central Saanich
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/home-based-business/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/home-based-business.json"
---

# Central Saanich home-based business rules

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

**Short answer:** In Central Saanich you can run a home occupation if the family living in the dwelling runs it and it meets the zoning limits. You also need a District business licence, with a $50 new application fee. Renewal is free.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Central Saanich, https://www.centralsaanich.ca)  
**Cost:** $50 new application (Home Based). Renewal is free.  
**How long:** Not stated.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Planning Department, 250-544-4209
- Email: Planning Department, planning@csaanich.ca
- In person: Municipal Hall, 1903 Mount Newton Cross Road, Saanichton, BC V8M 2A9 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

## Key facts

- **Allowed:** Yes, as an accessory 'Home Occupation' run by family living in the dwelling. Major home occupations are listed in R-C, R-N, R-NS and R-T zones; Minor in R-TA and R-A; Rural in the Agriculture and rural zones (A, RU-A, RU-F, RU-FW, RU-S).
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2270, 2026, s. 5.4; zones 6.2, 6.22-6.29](https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-07/Zoning%20Bylaw%20No.%202270%2C%202026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Home Occupation - Major in accordance with Section 5.4." … "Home Occupation - Minor in accordance with Section 5.4." … "Home Occupation - Rural in accordance with Section 5.4" … "must be operated by a member, or members of" … "the Family residing in the Dwelling Unit in which the Home Occupation is carried out."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Business licence:** Yes. A business licence is required for home businesses. New application fee $50 (Home Based). Annual renewal is free but you must submit the renewal form; a $50 late renewal fee applies after 60 days.
  - Source: [Business Licence](https://www.centralsaanich.ca/business-licence)
  - Official wording: "This applies to all retail, commercial and industrial establishments, professional firms and home businesses." … "| Home Based | $ 50 | $50" … "There is no charge for annual renewals, however you must submit your renewal application on this form."
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 2166, s. 9](https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-04/2166%20Business%20License%20Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Where a license for a business is not renewed within sixty (60) days after its expiry date"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Limits:** Major (most residential zones): family residing in the dwelling runs it; one non-resident employee; two patrons at a time; up to 25% of the dwelling and accessory building, max 50 m²; no outdoor storage or exterior sign of the business. Minor: no employees or patrons, in the dwelling only, up to 50%. Rural: 100 m². (Sources differ: The bylaw's table columns run together in the text. As read: employee limit is none (Minor), one (Major) and two (Rural); patrons none (Minor), two at a time (Major and Rural). Noise, odour, vibration and glare must not be detectable off site; bulk deliveries by commercial vehicles are not allowed. Parking: 1 space per employee and/or per patron (Part 7). The Business Licence page says 25% of the dwelling and an accessory building under 90 m², which matches the Business Licence Bylaw definition but differs from the zoning caps (50 m² and 100 m²).)
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2270, 2026, s. 5.4](https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-07/Zoning%20Bylaw%20No.%202270%2C%202026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "There shall be no exterior indication of the Home Occupation," … "including but not limited to Outdoor Storage, displays, or" … "No person other One person Two persons" … "No patrons are Only two patrons are" … "No more than 50% of" … "25% of the Dwelling" … "maximum of 50 m²." … "maximum of 100 m²." … "1 space per employee and/or"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Businesses not allowed:** Retail sales of off-site products (except mail, online or phone orders where customers do not visit), composting for sale, and any business that gives off noise, odour, smoke or fumes detectable outside. Child care homes follow the Community Care and Assisted Living Act.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2270, 2026, s. 5.4, 5.2](https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-07/Zoning%20Bylaw%20No.%202270%2C%202026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Retail sales of off-site products are not permitted, except for" … "mail, online, or telephone orders where customers do not visit the premises, or for products that are incidental to the service provided." … "the production of compost is not a permitted Home Occupation." … "The Home Occupation shall not generate vibration, noise, heat, glare,"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw No. 2270, 2026 (s. 5.4 Home Occupations) and Business Licence Bylaw No. 2166
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2270, 2026, s. 5.4](https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-07/Zoning%20Bylaw%20No.%202270%2C%202026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Central Saanich Zoning Bylaw No. 2270"
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 2166, s. 1](https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-04/2166%20Business%20License%20Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Central Saanich Business License Bylaw No. 2166"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The [Zoning Bylaw No. 2270](https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-07/Zoning%20Bylaw%20No.%202270%2C%202026.pdf) (s. 5.4) allows a "Home Occupation" as an accessory use, run by family living in the dwelling. Major home occupations are listed in the R-C, R-N, R-NS and R-T zones; Minor in R-TA and R-A; Rural in the Agriculture and rural zones. Check your own zone.

Limits for a Major home occupation (most residential zones): one non-resident employee, two patrons at a time, up to 25% of the dwelling and accessory building (maximum 50 m²), and no outdoor storage or exterior sign. A Minor one has no employees or patrons, is in the dwelling only, and may use up to 50%. A Rural one is up to 100 m².

Noise, odour, vibration and glare must not be detectable off site, and bulk deliveries by commercial vehicles are not allowed. Parking is 1 space per employee and/or per patron.

## Steps

1. Check your zone and the limits above.
2. Apply for a business licence. The new application fee for a Home Based business is $50 (see the business-licence answer).
3. Renew each year by submitting the renewal form. Renewal is free; a $50 late fee applies after 60 days.

## Good to know

- Not allowed: retail sales of off-site products (except mail, online or phone orders where customers do not visit), composting for sale, and any business giving off noise, odour, smoke or fumes detectable outside. This is not a full list.
- Child care homes follow the Community Care and Assisted Living Act.
- A business licence is not issued for a property with bylaw infractions, including an unauthorized secondary suite.
- The [Business Licence page](https://www.centralsaanich.ca/business-licence) describes the size limit as 25% of the dwelling and an accessory building under 90 m², which differs from the zoning caps (50 m² and 100 m²). Confirm with Planning.

## Official forms and pages

- [Business Licence, District of Central Saanich](https://www.centralsaanich.ca/business-licence)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 2270, 2026 (PDF)](https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-07/Zoning%20Bylaw%20No.%202270%2C%202026.pdf)
- [Business Licence Bylaw No. 2166 (PDF)](https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-04/2166%20Business%20License%20Bylaw.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Central Saanich business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/business-licence.md)
- [Central Saanich zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Central Saanich secondary suite and carriage house rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/secondary-suite.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Home-based business rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/home-based-business.md)
- [Sidney](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sidney/home-based-business.md)
- [North Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/home-based-business.md)
- [Highlands](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/home-based-business.md)
- [Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/home-based-business.md)
- [View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/home-based-business.md)
- [Esquimalt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/home-based-business.md)

## Sources

- [Business Licence, District of Central Saanich](https://www.centralsaanich.ca/business-licence) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 2270, 2026 (PDF)](https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-07/Zoning%20Bylaw%20No.%202270%2C%202026.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Business Licence Bylaw No. 2166 (PDF)](https://www.centralsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-04/2166%20Business%20License%20Bylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)

_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 District of Central Saanich. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/home-based-business/_