Coquitlam home-based business rules
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.
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).Zoning Bylaw 3000, Part 5, s. 508(3) Accessory Home Occupation; Zoning Bylaw 3000, Part 10 Low Density Residential Zones, s. 1001-1005 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingAn accessory home occupation use: (a) must be validly licensed; (d) Accessory home occupation, as limited under Section 508(3) (d) Accessory home occupation |
|---|---|
| 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.Business Licences, Business Licence Applications; Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 5484, 2025, Schedule K, Schedule K, Part 1, Level One · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingApplication for home-based businesses in Coquitlam: Business Licence Application - Home Based Business (PDF) A. Level One home occupation (unless nature of home occupation business otherwise listed) (a) general $ 100.80 |
| 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.Zoning Bylaw 3000, Part 5, s. 508(3) Accessory Home Occupation · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official 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 |
| 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.Zoning Bylaw 3000, Part 5, s. 508(3) Accessory Home Occupation, s. 508(3)(h), (l), (m) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingcheque 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 |
| Bylaw | Zoning Bylaw No. 3000, 1996, s. 508(3) (Accessory Home Occupation); Business Licence Bylaw No. 4344, 2013Zoning Bylaw 3000, Part 5, s. 508(3) Accessory Home Occupation; Business Licence Bylaw No. 4344, 2013 (PDF, consolidated December 20, 2021), s. 1.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingsystem will not be compromised by the presence of the accessory dwelling unit. (3) Accessory Home Occupation An accessory home occupation use: Business Licence Bylaw No. 4344, 2013 |
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.
Steps
- Check your business fits the limits below.
- Fill in the home-based business licence application from the Business Licences page.
- Email it to Business Licensing or deliver it to City Hall, with the fee.
- 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
The same question in other places
Port Coquitlam · Port Moody · Belcarra · Anmore · New Westminster · Burnaby
Home-based business rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Business Licences, City of Coquitlam (read 2026-11-05)
- Zoning Bylaw 3000, Part 5, s. 508(3) Accessory Home Occupation (PDF), City of Coquitlam (read 2026-11-05)
- Zoning Bylaw 3000, Part 10 Low Density Residential Zones (PDF), City of Coquitlam (read 2026-11-05)
- Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 5484, 2025, Schedule K (PDF), City of Coquitlam (read 2026-11-05)
- Business Licence Bylaw No. 4344, 2013 (PDF, consolidated December 20, 2021), City of Coquitlam (read 2026-11-05)
- Rezonings and Zoning Bylaw Text Amendments, City of Coquitlam (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.