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

# Delta home-based business rules

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

**Short answer:** Yes, in the City of Delta you can run a home occupation if it is one of the listed low-impact kinds of business, run by residents of the dwelling, and you hold a City business licence. The Zoning Bylaw limits floor area, staff and clients.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Delta, https://www.delta.ca)  
**Cost:** A City business licence is required. No home-based fee is stated; the basic annual licence for businesses not otherwise listed is $175 (1 to 5 persons engaged). Some types have their own fee.  
**How long:** Not stated for home-based businesses.  
**Where:**
- Email: Business Licences, businesslicences@delta.ca
- Phone: Licensing Office, 604-946-3314 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.)
- In person: Delta City Hall, 4500 Clarence Taylor Crescent, Delta, BC V4K 3E2

## Key facts

- **Allowed:** Yes. A home occupation is allowed as an accessory use to a dwelling in residential zones (single detached, duplex, townhouse, apartment) and to a farm house in A1, but only the listed low-impact kinds of business, run by residents of the dwelling.
  - Source: [Delta Zoning Bylaw No. 7600, 2017 (consolidated April 21, 2026), section 7.5, s. 11.10.3 (RS1 zone example) and s. 6.1.10(e)](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/177229/)
  - Official wording: "Home occupation, accessory to a single detached dwelling" … "Only the following uses are permitted as home occupations:" … "businesses practiced entirely by phone or online;"
  - Source: [Delta Zoning Bylaw No. 7600, 2017 (consolidated April 21, 2026), section 7.5, Definition](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/177229/)
  - Official wording: "a business carried on as an accessory use to a dwelling unit by a"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Business licence:** Yes. A home occupation requires a City business licence. The basic annual licence for businesses not otherwise listed is $175 for 1 to 5 persons engaged; some types have their own fee, such as Tutor or Private Teacher $29. No home-based fee is stated.
  - Source: [Delta Zoning Bylaw No. 7600, 2017 (consolidated April 21, 2026), section 7.5, s. 6.1.10(c)(ix)](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/177229/)
  - Official wording: "A home occupation requires a business licence from the City."
  - Source: [Delta Consolidated Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 8386, Schedule 4, Schedule 4, Part A](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/234450/)
  - Official wording: "PART A: ANNUAL BASIC BUSINESS LICENCE (not otherwise listed)" … "(1) 1 to 5 persons engaged $175.00 /each" … "(1) 1 to 5 persons engaged $175.00 /each" … "(23) Tutor or Private Teacher $29.00 /each"
  - Source: [Business Licences, Business Licences page, Home-Based Business Licence](https://www.delta.ca/city-hall/doing-business/business-licences)
  - Official wording: "The annual Licence fee depends on the business type."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Limits:** Floor area: the lesser of 50 m² or 20% of the dwelling. Only residents may work in it (no more than 2), with no more than 2 clients at a time. Everything stays indoors; no noise, odour or extra street parking. One non-illuminated sign up to 0.18 m² is allowed (Sign Bylaw No. 5860, s. 7.7).
  - Source: [Delta Zoning Bylaw No. 7600, 2017 (consolidated April 21, 2026), section 7.5, s. 6.1.10(a)-(c)](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/177229/)
  - Official wording: "shall not exceed 50 m2 or 20% of the gross" … "Not more than 2 persons residing in a dwelling unit shall be engaged in home occupations." … "maximum of 2 clients at a time." … "All materials, equipment and products associated with a home occupation shall be" … "additional parking on adjacent streets."
  - Source: [Delta Sign Bylaw No. 5860, Delta Sign Bylaw No. 5860, s. 7.7](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/135289/)
  - Official wording: "One non-illuminated home occupation or bed and breakfast facia or freestanding" … "sign is permitted provided it does not exceed 0.18 m2 in total sign area on"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Businesses not allowed:** Not allowed: adult entertainment, wholesale or retail agents of goods made elsewhere, cannabis businesses, dance school for more than 2 students, kennel or stable, machine shop, massage parlour, methadone clinic or dispensary, professional offices such as dentist or doctor, band training, real estate or land development office, and motor vehicle salvage or repair.
  - Source: [Delta Zoning Bylaw No. 7600, 2017 (consolidated April 21, 2026), section 7.5, s. 6.1.10(e)(iii)](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/177229/)
  - Official wording: "The following uses are not permitted as home occupation uses:" … "machine shop;" … "real estate or land development office;" … "salvage or repair of motor vehicles."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Delta Zoning Bylaw No. 7600, 2017, s. 6.1.10 (Home Occupations); Delta Business Licence Bylaw No. 7670, 2017
  - Source: [Delta Zoning Bylaw No. 7600, 2017 (consolidated April 21, 2026), section 7.5, s. 6.1.10](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/177229/)
  - Official wording: "6.1.10 HOME OCCUPATIONS" … "Delta Zoning Bylaw No. 7600, 2017"
  - Source: [Delta Business Licence Bylaw No. 7670, 2017 (consolidated), s. 1.1](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/195983)
  - Official wording: "Delta Business Licence Bylaw No. 7670, 2017"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

A home occupation is a business run by residents as an accessory use to a dwelling in residential zones (single detached, duplex, townhouse, apartment) and to a farm house in A1. Only the listed low-impact kinds are allowed. The rules are in [Zoning Bylaw No. 7600](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/177229), section 6.1.10.

## Steps

1. Read the home occupation rules in the Zoning Bylaw (section 6.1.10).
2. If you live in a duplex, townhouse or apartment, get written consent from the owner or manager first.
3. Fill in the Business Licence Application and send it to businesslicences@delta.ca, or bring it to City Hall.
4. Pay the invoice the City sends; the licence follows.

## Good to know

- Limits: the lesser of 50 m² or 20% of the dwelling. Only residents may work in it (no more than 2), with no more than 2 clients at a time. Everything stays indoors, with no noise, odour or extra street parking. Licensed childcare for up to 8 children is exempt from the floor-area and client limits.
- Allowed uses include phone or online businesses, craft making, academic, art, dance or music instruction, small offices of low-impact professionals, personal services (not dry cleaning or a laundromat), small-appliance and upholstery repair, animal grooming (maximum two animals), and similar uses at the General Manager's discretion.
- Not allowed: adult entertainment, wholesale or retail agents of goods made elsewhere, cannabis businesses, a dance school for more than 2 students, kennel or stable, machine shop, massage parlour, methadone clinic or dispensary, professional offices such as dentist or doctor, band training, real estate or land development office, and motor vehicle salvage or repair.
- No mechanical equipment beyond household or hobby use, and no sale of goods on the premises other than the principal product of a home craft.
- One non-illuminated sign up to 0.18 m² is allowed (Sign Bylaw No. 5860, s. 7.7).

## Official forms and pages

- [Business Licence Application (PDF)](https://www.delta.ca/media/3191)
- [Business Licences page](https://www.delta.ca/city-hall/doing-business/business-licences)
- [Delta Zoning Bylaw No. 7600, section 6.1.10 Home Occupations (PDF)](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/177229)

## Related questions

- [Delta business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/delta/business-licence.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Home-based business rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/home-based-business.md)
- [Richmond](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/richmond/home-based-business.md)
- [Burnaby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/home-based-business.md)
- [White Rock](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/white-rock/home-based-business.md)
- [New Westminster](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/home-based-business.md)
- [Surrey](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/surrey/home-based-business.md)
- [North Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver/home-based-business.md)

## Sources

- [Business Licences, City of Delta](https://www.delta.ca/city-hall/doing-business/business-licences) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Delta Zoning Bylaw No. 7600, 2017, section 6.1.10 Home Occupations (PDF)](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/177229) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Delta Consolidated Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 8386, Schedule 4 (PDF)](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/234450/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Delta Sign Bylaw No. 5860 (PDF)](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/135289/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Delta Zoning Bylaw No. 7600, 2017 (consolidated April 21, 2026), section 7.5](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/177229/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Delta Business Licence Bylaw No. 7670, 2017 (consolidated)](https://delta.civicweb.net/document/195983) (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 Delta. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/delta/home-based-business/_