Cumberland home-based business rules

Can I run a business from my home?

Cumberland, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-08

Short answer

Yes, in the Village of Cumberland you can run a home occupation in residential zones if you live in the dwelling on the same lot and hold a Village business licence. The size, employee and client limits depend on whether it is minor, standard or major.

Key facts

Allowed	Yes, as a home occupation. Residential zones: minor in all (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-MHP, R-RTMU, R-MU); standard in R-1, R-2, R-3 and R-MHP; major in R-3 only. Also allowed in MU zones, FSG and some Interchange zones. The operator must live in the dwelling on the same lot.Zoning Bylaw No. 1238, 2025, consolidated July 27, 2026, Table 10.2(1); Table 6.4(2) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording Minor S S S S S S Standard S S S S -- -- Major -- -- S -- -- -- The home occupation must be operated by an individual whose principal residence is the dwelling on the same lot as the Standard -- S S Minor S S S
Business licence	Yes. All home occupations must have a valid Village business licence. Fees: Tier 1 basic licence $125 application and $25 yearly (businesses with no customers or employees in the home); Tier 2 (needs a fire inspection) $275 and $100.Zoning Bylaw No. 1238, 2025, consolidated July 27, 2026, Table 6.4(2), Licencing Requirements; Business Licences, Fees · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording All home occupations must have a valid business licence issued by the Village of Cumberland. Application Fee $125, Yearly Licence Fee $25 Application Fee $275, Yearly Licence Fee $100
Limits	Floor area: minor 20.0 m² or 25% of the lot's buildings, standard 50.0 m², major 100.0 m² (whichever is less). Non-resident employees: minor none, standard one, major two. Clients at once: minor one, others two. One sign, 1.5 m² max. No outdoor storage or containers; no commercial vehicles over 5,500 kg.Zoning Bylaw No. 1238, 2025, consolidated July 27, 2026, Table 6.4(2); Table 9.4.1(2) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording 20.0 m2 or 25% of the 50.0 m2 or 25% of the 100.0 m2 or 25% of Outdoor storage or use of containers is not permitted. On-site parking of commercial vehicles larger than 5,500 kilograms gross vehicle weight is not permitted. 1.0 space per non-resident on-site employee maximum number of signs per home occupation: 1 maximum sign area must not exceed 1.5 square metres
Businesses not allowed	None set. Cumberland's zoning bylaw gives no list of banned business types.
Bylaw	Zoning Bylaw No. 1238, 2025 (s. 6.4, Table 10.2(1)); Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 1239, 2025Zoning Bylaw No. 1238, 2025, consolidated July 27, 2026, s. 1.1; Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 1239, 2025, amended by Bylaw No. 1262, s. 1.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording This Bylaw may be cited as “Village of Cumberland Zoning Bylaw No. 1238, 2025”. This Bylaw shall be cited as the “Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 1239,

How it works

Zoning Bylaw No. 1238 allows a home occupation in residential zones. Minor is allowed in all (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-MHP, R-RTMU, R-MU); standard in R-1, R-2, R-3 and R-MHP; major in R-3 only. It is also allowed in MU zones, FSG and some Interchange zones. The operator must live in the dwelling on the same lot.

Limits:

Floor area: minor 20.0 m² or 25% of the lot's buildings, standard 50.0 m², major 100.0 m² (whichever is less).
Non-resident employees: minor none, standard one, major two.
Clients at once: minor one, others two.
One sign, 1.5 m² at most. No outdoor storage or containers, and no commercial vehicles over 5,500 kg.

Where there are two or fewer dwelling units on a lot, a home occupation may use up to 50.0 m² or 25%, employ one non-resident employee and have two clients. Retail sales are limited to goods made on site or directly related; virtual sales are permitted.

Steps

Confirm your zone allows your home occupation (see the zoning-lookup answer).
Apply for a Village business licence using the home occupation form (see the business-licence answer).
Pay the fees: Tier 1 $125 application and $25 yearly; Tier 2 $275 and $100 (needs a fire inspection).

Good to know

All home occupations need a valid Village business licence.
The bylaw gives no list of banned business types; it limits effects instead (no nuisance, no outdoor storage, retail sales not the main purpose).
Cannabis retail has its own rules.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

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

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

Sources

Business Licences, Village of Cumberland (read 2026-11-08)
Zoning Bylaw No. 1238, 2025, consolidated July 27, 2026 (PDF) (read 2026-11-08)
Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 1239, 2025, amended by Bylaw No. 1262 (PDF) (read 2026-11-08)

Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 4 of 5 facts was matched to the official text; 1 is recorded as not set. How answers are checked.