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Comox home-based business rules

Can I run a business from my home in Comox?

Comox, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-06

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.

Key facts

AllowedYes. 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.Zoning Bylaw No. 2056 (PDF, current to July 8, 2026), Table 9.2(1); Table 6.5(1); s. 4 definition · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
(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
Business licenceYes. 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%.Zoning Bylaw No. 2056 (PDF, current to July 8, 2026), Table 6.5(2)(a); Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2058 (PDF, consolidated to June 10, 2026), Schedule D; Business Regulation Bylaw No. 1882 (PDF, consolidated to March 18, 2026), s. 9(2) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
All home occupations must have a valid business licence issued by the
Cannabis-Related Establishment $150 Financial Institution $100 Home-Based Business $100 Hotels, Motels, Restaurant Not Liquor Licensed $100
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
LimitsFloor 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).Zoning Bylaw No. 2056 (PDF, current to July 8, 2026), Table 6.5(2); Table 8.4.1(1); Sign Bylaw No. 1197 (PDF, as at November 17, 2021), Residential Section 2(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
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
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
Businesses not allowedA 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.Zoning Bylaw No. 2056 (PDF, current to July 8, 2026), Table 6.5(2)(i), (m) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
In no instance shall a home occupation involve a light industrial, heavy
Should the home occupation cease, the additional cooking facilities must be removed
BylawZoning Bylaw No. 2056, s. 6.5 (Home Occupations); Business Regulation Bylaw No. 1882; Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2058, Schedule D.Zoning Bylaw No. 2056 (PDF, current to July 8, 2026), s. 6.5; Business Regulation Bylaw No. 1882 (PDF, consolidated to March 18, 2026), s. 2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Town of Comox | Zoning Bylaw No. 2056 6.5 Home Occupations Table 6.5(1) Home Occupation Classifications
“Home-Based Business” means a Business that is defined as a “Home Occupation”

How it works

The Town of Comox Zoning Bylaw No. 2056 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.

Steps

  1. Confirm your zone allows the type of home occupation (see the zoning-lookup answer).
  2. Check the limits below.
  3. Apply for a Town business licence through the online application on comox.ca/businesslicence (see the business-licence answer).

Good to know

  • Fee: $100 a year. Licences issued new between April 1 and June 30 pay 75%, and July 1 to December 31 pay 50%.
  • Size: 30% of the dwelling, up to 40 m² (60 m² in an accessory building).
  • People: one client at a time. Minor allows no non-resident employees; Major allows one, and needs 1 parking space per Major employee.
  • Where and what: fully indoors, no outdoor storage, and no commercial vehicles over 5,500 kg.
  • 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.
  • Signs: one fascia sign, maximum 0.18 m², under the Sign Bylaw 1197.
  • An unlawful home occupation bylaw notice is $200 within 14 days and $250 after.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Courtenay · Cumberland · Powell River · Campbell River · Port Alberni · Qualicum Beach

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

Sources

  1. Zoning Bylaw No. 2056 (PDF, current to July 8, 2026), Town of Comox (read 2026-11-06)
  2. Business Regulation Bylaw No. 1882 (PDF, consolidated to March 18, 2026), Town of Comox (read 2026-11-06)
  3. Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2058 (PDF, consolidated to June 10, 2026), Town of Comox (read 2026-11-06)
  4. Sign Bylaw No. 1197 (PDF, as at November 17, 2021), Town of Comox (read 2026-11-06)
  5. Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2004 (PDF, consolidated to June 10, 2026), Town of Comox (read 2026-11-06)
  6. Business Licences, Town of Comox (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. How answers are checked.