{"title":"Comox home-based business rules","question":"Can I run a business from my home in Comox?","slug":"home-based-business","place":{"path":"ca/bc/comox","name":"Comox","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"business","name":"Starting and running a business"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"Town of Comox","url":"https://www.comox.ca"},"short_answer":"Yes. In Comox, Minor and Major home occupations are permitted as secondary uses in the low-density residential zones and other listed zones. You need a Town business licence, $100 a year, and must follow limits on size, employees, clients and vehicles.","aliases":["home business comox","home occupation comox","work from home business licence comox","home based business bylaw comox"],"cost":"Home-Based Business licence is $100 a year. New licences issued April 1 to June 30 pay 75%, and July 1 to December 31 pay 50%.","how_long":"Not stated on the pages read.","where":[{"type":"online","label":"Business Licences page and online application","value":"https://www.comox.ca/businesslicence"},{"type":"phone","label":"Planning Department","value":"250-339-1118"},{"type":"in_person","label":"Town Hall","value":"1809 Beaufort Avenue, Comox, BC V9M 1R9","note":"Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m."}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Business Licences, Town of Comox","url":"https://www.comox.ca/businesslicence"},{"title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2056 (PDF)","url":"https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2026-09/Consolidated%20Bylaw%202056%20-%20Zoning%20Bylaw_at%20July8%202026%20%281%29.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"business-licence","title":"Comox business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/business-licence/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Comox zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/zoning-lookup/"},{"slug":"short-term-rental","title":"Comox short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/short-term-rental/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/courtenay","name":"Courtenay","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/cumberland","name":"Cumberland","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/powell-river","name":"Powell River","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/powell-river/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/campbell-river","name":"Campbell River","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/port-alberni","name":"Port Alberni","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/qualicum-beach","name":"Qualicum Beach","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/home-based-business/"}],"topic":{"title":"Home-based business rules in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/home-based-business/"},"facts":{"allowed":{"label":"Allowed","value":"Yes. Minor and Major home occupations (and bed and breakfast and vacation rental) are permitted as secondary uses in the low-density residential zones (R-SSMU, R-WF, R-CL, R-LL) and in other zones listed in the bylaw. A home occupation is the use of part of a dwelling unit or accessory building, by a resident of the premises, to operate a business. Minor is run solely by the resident; Major can have one on-site non-resident employee.","short":"Yes, in low-density residential zones","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2026-09/Consolidated%20Bylaw%202056%20-%20Zoning%20Bylaw_at%20July8%202026%20%281%29.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2056 (PDF, current to July 8, 2026), Town of Comox","section":"Table 9.2(1); Table 6.5(1); s. 4 definition","quotes":["(i) Minor S S S S","Home Occupation means the use of a portion of a dwelling unit or accessory building, by a resident","Minor home occupations are intended to be operated solely","can employ one"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"licence":{"label":"Business licence","value":"Yes. All home occupations must have a valid Town business licence. The Home-Based Business licence fee is $100 a year. New licences issued April 1 to June 30 pay 75%, and July 1 to December 31 pay 50%.","short":"Yes: $100 a year","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2026-09/Consolidated%20Bylaw%202056%20-%20Zoning%20Bylaw_at%20July8%202026%20%281%29.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2056 (PDF, current to July 8, 2026), Town of Comox","section":"Table 6.5(2)(a)","quotes":["All home occupations must have a valid business licence issued by the"]},{"url":"https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/Bylaw%202058%20Consolidated%20-%20Fees%20and%20Charges%20as%20at%20June%2010%2C%202026.pdf","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2058 (PDF, consolidated to June 10, 2026), Town of Comox","section":"Schedule D","quotes":["Cannabis-Related Establishment $150 Financial Institution $100 Home-Based Business $100 Hotels, Motels, Restaurant Not Liquor Licensed $100"]},{"url":"https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/Bylaw%201882%20Consolidated%20-%20Business%20Regulation%20-%20as%20at%20Mar%2018%2C%202026.pdf","title":"Business Regulation Bylaw No. 1882 (PDF, consolidated to March 18, 2026), Town of Comox","section":"s. 9(2)","quotes":["for a new Licence issued between April 1 and June 30, 75% of the","for a new Licence issued between July 1 and December 31, 50% of"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"limits":{"label":"Limits","value":"Floor area: 30% of the dwelling, up to 40 m² (60 m² in an accessory building). Minor: no non-resident employees; Major: one. One client at a time. Fully indoors; no outdoor storage; no commercial vehicles over 5,500 kg. Parking: 1 space per Major employee. Signs: one fascia sign, max 0.18 m² (Sign Bylaw 1197).","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2026-09/Consolidated%20Bylaw%202056%20-%20Zoning%20Bylaw_at%20July8%202026%20%281%29.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2056 (PDF, current to July 8, 2026), Town of Comox","section":"Table 6.5(2); Table 8.4.1(1)","quotes":["30% of the subject dwelling unit's floor area, up to a maximum of 40.0","Where a home occupation is conducted within an accessory building, the","A maximum of one non-resident","One client at any given time with the exception of children or adults","Outdoor storage or use of shipping containers is not permitted.","On-site parking of commercial vehicles larger than 5,500 kilograms gross","(ii) Major 1.0 space per non-resident on-site employee"]},{"url":"https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2026-08/Bylaw%201197%20Consolidated%20-%20Sign%20Bylaw%20-%20as%20at%20Nov%2017%202021_1.pdf","title":"Sign Bylaw No. 1197 (PDF, as at November 17, 2021), Town of Comox","section":"Residential Section 2(a)","quotes":["Facia signs for home occupations are permitted limited to one sign per","residence of a maximum size of 0.18 square metres giving the name of"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"not_allowed":{"label":"Businesses not allowed","value":"A home occupation may not involve a light industrial, heavy industrial, light automotive and equipment services, heavy automotive and equipment services, or watercraft and equipment services use. Cooking facilities added for a food catering business must be removed if the business stops.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2026-09/Consolidated%20Bylaw%202056%20-%20Zoning%20Bylaw_at%20July8%202026%20%281%29.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2056 (PDF, current to July 8, 2026), Town of Comox","section":"Table 6.5(2)(i), (m)","quotes":["In no instance shall a home occupation involve a light industrial, heavy","Should the home occupation cease, the additional cooking facilities must be removed"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2056, s. 6.5 (Home Occupations); Business Regulation Bylaw No. 1882; Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2058, Schedule D.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2026-09/Consolidated%20Bylaw%202056%20-%20Zoning%20Bylaw_at%20July8%202026%20%281%29.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2056 (PDF, current to July 8, 2026), Town of Comox","section":"s. 6.5","quotes":["Town of Comox | Zoning Bylaw No. 2056 6.5 Home Occupations Table 6.5(1) Home Occupation Classifications"]},{"url":"https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/Bylaw%201882%20Consolidated%20-%20Business%20Regulation%20-%20as%20at%20Mar%2018%2C%202026.pdf","title":"Business Regulation Bylaw No. 1882 (PDF, consolidated to March 18, 2026), Town of Comox","section":"s. 2","quotes":["“Home-Based Business” means a Business that is defined as a “Home Occupation”"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":5,"stated":5,"matched":5,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nThe Town of Comox [Zoning Bylaw No. 2056](https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2026-09/Consolidated%20Bylaw%202056%20-%20Zoning%20Bylaw_at%20July8%202026%20%281%29.pdf) defines a home occupation as the use of part of a dwelling unit or accessory building, by a resident of the premises, to operate a business. A Minor home occupation is run solely by the resident. A Major one can have one on-site non-resident employee. Both, plus bed and breakfast and vacation rental, are permitted as secondary uses in the low-density residential zones (R-SSMU, R-WF, R-CL, R-LL) and in other zones listed in the bylaw. Other zones allow Minor home occupations in different combinations, so check yours. The dwelling must be your principal residence.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Confirm your zone allows the type of home occupation (see the zoning-lookup answer).\n2. Check the limits below.\n3. Apply for a Town business licence through the online application on comox.ca/businesslicence (see the business-licence answer).\n\n## Good to know\n\n- **Fee:** $100 a year. Licences issued new between April 1 and June 30 pay 75%, and July 1 to December 31 pay 50%.\n- **Size:** 30% of the dwelling, up to 40 m² (60 m² in an accessory building).\n- **People:** one client at a time. Minor allows no non-resident employees; Major allows one, and needs 1 parking space per Major employee.\n- **Where and what:** fully indoors, no outdoor storage, and no commercial vehicles over 5,500 kg.\n- **Not allowed:** a light industrial, heavy industrial, light or heavy automotive and equipment services, or watercraft and equipment services use. Cooking facilities added for a food catering business must be removed if the business stops.\n- **Signs:** one fascia sign, maximum 0.18 m², under the Sign Bylaw 1197.\n- An unlawful home occupation bylaw notice is $200 within 14 days and $250 after.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2026-09/Consolidated%20Bylaw%202056%20-%20Zoning%20Bylaw_at%20July8%202026%20%281%29.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2056 (PDF, current to July 8, 2026), Town of Comox","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/Bylaw%201882%20Consolidated%20-%20Business%20Regulation%20-%20as%20at%20Mar%2018%2C%202026.pdf","title":"Business Regulation Bylaw No. 1882 (PDF, consolidated to March 18, 2026), Town of Comox","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/Bylaw%202058%20Consolidated%20-%20Fees%20and%20Charges%20as%20at%20June%2010%2C%202026.pdf","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2058 (PDF, consolidated to June 10, 2026), Town of Comox","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2026-08/Bylaw%201197%20Consolidated%20-%20Sign%20Bylaw%20-%20as%20at%20Nov%2017%202021_1.pdf","title":"Sign Bylaw No. 1197 (PDF, as at November 17, 2021), Town of Comox","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2026-08/Bylaw%202004%20Consolidated%20-%20Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20as%20at%20June%2010%2C%202026.pdf","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2004 (PDF, consolidated to June 10, 2026), Town of Comox","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.comox.ca/businesslicence","title":"Business Licences, Town of Comox","accessed":"2026-11-06"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-06","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 5 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/home-based-business/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/home-based-business.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/home-based-business.json"}}