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

# Coquitlam home-based business rules

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

**Short answer:** Yes, in Coquitlam you can run an accessory home occupation in residential zones if it is validly licensed and meets Zoning Bylaw conditions, such as using no more than 40% of the dwelling's floor area and employing at most one non-resident. The licence is $100.80 a year for most home businesses.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Coquitlam, https://www.coquitlam.ca)  
**Cost:** $100.80 a year for a home occupation (Level One, rates effective April 1, 2026), unless the business type is listed at another level. A late application adds 25%.  
**Where:**
- Online: Business Licences page (home-based application form), https://www.coquitlam.ca/602/Business-Licences
- In person: City Hall, 3000 Guildford Way, Coquitlam, BC V3B 7N2 (Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

## Key facts

- **Allowed:** Yes, as an 'accessory home occupation' in residential zones including RS-2 and R-1 to R-4, if it is validly licensed and meets the conditions in Zoning Bylaw s. 508(3).
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 3000, Part 5, s. 508(3) Accessory Home Occupation](https://www.coquitlam.ca/DocumentCenter/View/1170)
  - Official wording: "An accessory home occupation use:" … "(a) must be validly licensed;"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 3000, Part 10 Low Density Residential Zones, s. 1001-1005](https://www.coquitlam.ca/DocumentCenter/View/1174)
  - Official wording: "(d) Accessory home occupation, as limited under Section 508(3)" … "(d) Accessory home occupation"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Business licence:** Yes. A home-based business licence is required (separate application form). Fee is $100.80 a year for a home occupation (Level One), unless the business type is listed at another level.
  - Source: [Business Licences, Business Licence Applications](https://www.coquitlam.ca/602/Business-Licences)
  - Official wording: "Application for home-based businesses in Coquitlam:" … "Business Licence Application - Home Based Business (PDF)"
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 5484, 2025, Schedule K, Schedule K, Part 1, Level One](https://publicdocs.coquitlam.ca/coquitlamdoc/getdocIF.asp?doc=6285879)
  - Official wording: "A. Level One" … "home occupation (unless nature of home occupation business otherwise listed)" … "(a) general $ 100.80"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Limits:** Uses no more than 40% of the dwelling unit's residential floor area; run by a permanent resident with at most one non-resident employee; no outdoor display or storage; only a non-illuminated fascia sign up to 0.2 m²; no traffic or parking beyond what is typical for the zone; no retail sales of goods not produced there.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 3000, Part 5, s. 508(3) Accessory Home Occupation](https://www.coquitlam.ca/DocumentCenter/View/1170)
  - Official wording: "(k) must not occupy more than 40% of the residential floor area of the dwelling unit" … "employ no more than one non-resident person;" … "(c) must not involve the outdoor display or storage of goods and materials;" … "non-illuminated fascia signage (0.2 square" … "(f) must not result in parking, pedestrian or vehicular traffic to the home, in excess of" … "(b) must not involve the retail sale and delivery of goods on the premises unless the"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Businesses not allowed:** Adult entertainment use, adult video store, cheque cashing, scrap metal dealer and tattoo parlour; repair, salvaging or maintenance of motor vehicles; keeping or breeding animals for financial gain.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 3000, Part 5, s. 508(3) Accessory Home Occupation, s. 508(3)(h), (l), (m)](https://www.coquitlam.ca/DocumentCenter/View/1170)
  - Official wording: "cheque cashing business, scrap metal dealer, or tattoo parlour;" … "(m) must not involve the repair, salvaging or maintenance of motor vehicles as an" … "(h) must not involve the keeping of animals for financial gain or breeding of any"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw No. 3000, 1996, s. 508(3) (Accessory Home Occupation); Business Licence Bylaw No. 4344, 2013
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 3000, Part 5, s. 508(3) Accessory Home Occupation](https://www.coquitlam.ca/DocumentCenter/View/1170)
  - Official wording: "system will not be compromised by the presence of the accessory dwelling unit. (3) Accessory Home Occupation An accessory home occupation use:"
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 4344, 2013 (PDF, consolidated December 20, 2021), s. 1.1](https://publicdocs.coquitlam.ca/coquitlamdoc/getdocIF.asp?doc=4296525)
  - Official wording: "Business Licence Bylaw No. 4344, 2013"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Coquitlam allows a business run from a dwelling as an "accessory home occupation" in residential zones including RS-2 and R-1 to R-4, if it is validly licensed and meets the conditions in section 508(3) of the Zoning Bylaw. A home-based business licence is required, with a separate application form. See [Business Licence Bylaw 4344](https://publicdocs.coquitlam.ca/coquitlamdoc/getdocIF.asp?doc=4296525).

## Steps

1. Check your business fits the limits below.
2. Fill in the home-based business licence application from the Business Licences page.
3. Email it to Business Licensing or deliver it to City Hall, with the fee.
4. A short-term rental or bed and breakfast needs an inspection before approval.

## Good to know

- Limits: uses no more than 40% of the dwelling unit's residential floor area; run by a permanent resident with at most one non-resident employee; completely enclosed within a building used for residential or accessory residential use (except child care).
- No outdoor display or storage. Only a non-illuminated fascia sign up to 0.2 m² is allowed.
- No traffic or parking beyond what is typical for the zone, and no storage of dangerous goods, odours, noise or glare beyond what is typical of a home. No retail sales of goods not produced there.
- Not allowed: adult entertainment use, adult video store, cheque cashing, scrap metal dealer, tattoo parlour, repair, salvaging or maintenance of motor vehicles, and keeping or breeding animals for financial gain.
- Other zones (legacy, rural, multi-family) were not checked; ask Planning and Development at 604-927-3430.

## Official forms and pages

- [Business Licences page](https://www.coquitlam.ca/602/Business-Licences)
- [Zoning Bylaw page](https://www.coquitlam.ca/562/Zoning-Bylaw)
- [Business Licence Bylaw 4344 (PDF)](https://publicdocs.coquitlam.ca/coquitlamdoc/getdocIF.asp?doc=4296525)

## Related questions

- [Coquitlam business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coquitlam/business-licence.md)
- [Coquitlam short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coquitlam/short-term-rental.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Home-based business rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/home-based-business.md)
- [Port Coquitlam](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-coquitlam/home-based-business.md)
- [Port Moody](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-moody/home-based-business.md)
- [Belcarra](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/home-based-business.md)
- [Anmore](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/anmore/home-based-business.md)
- [New Westminster](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/home-based-business.md)
- [Burnaby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/home-based-business.md)

## Sources

- [Business Licences, City of Coquitlam](https://www.coquitlam.ca/602/Business-Licences) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning Bylaw 3000, Part 5, s. 508(3) Accessory Home Occupation (PDF), City of Coquitlam](https://www.coquitlam.ca/DocumentCenter/View/1170) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning Bylaw 3000, Part 10 Low Density Residential Zones (PDF), City of Coquitlam](https://www.coquitlam.ca/DocumentCenter/View/1174) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 5484, 2025, Schedule K (PDF), City of Coquitlam](https://publicdocs.coquitlam.ca/coquitlamdoc/getdocIF.asp?doc=6285879) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Business Licence Bylaw No. 4344, 2013 (PDF, consolidated December 20, 2021), City of Coquitlam](https://publicdocs.coquitlam.ca/coquitlamdoc/getdocIF.asp?doc=4296525) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Rezonings and Zoning Bylaw Text Amendments, City of Coquitlam](https://www.coquitlam.ca/260/Rezonings-Zoning-Bylaw-Text-Amendments) (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 Coquitlam. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coquitlam/home-based-business/_