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

# Duncan home-based business rules

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

**Short answer:** Yes. The City of Duncan allows up to two home-based businesses per dwelling unit, within limits set by the Zoning Bylaw, and each needs a City business licence. Limits include one non-resident employee, 40% of the home up to 50 m², and no outdoor storage.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Duncan, https://duncan.ca)  
**Cost:** Business licence: $100 a year if paid before March 1 ($125 after); $50 for new licences issued after July 1.  
**Where:**
- In person: City Hall, 200 Craig Street, Duncan, BC V9L 1W3
- Email: Business licences, licence@duncan.ca
- Email: Development Services (zoning questions), developmentservices@duncan.ca
- Phone: City Hall, 250-746-6126

## Key facts

- **Allowed:** Yes, as an accessory use in the Low, Medium and High Density Residential zones and the Highway Corridor Commercial (HCC) zone; in Downtown, Neighbourhood Commercial, HCC2 and HCC3 only within a multi-unit dwelling. No more than two per dwelling unit (two per parcel where a suite exists).
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 3166, 2017 (PDF, amendments to August 24, 2026), section 3.18, s. 3.18.1, 4.2.1, 4.6.1, 4.11.1, 5.2.1](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/175322)
  - Official wording: "No more than two (2) home-based businesses are permitted per dwelling unit" … "Home-Based Business" … "Home-Based Business in a" … "Multi-Unit Dwelling" … "Car Wash Home-Based Business must be at least 500 m from"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Business licence:** Yes. Every business including home-based businesses needs a City business licence. Annual fee $100 if paid before March 1 ($125 later); $50 for new licences issued after July 1.
  - Source: [Business Licences, Business Licences page](https://duncan.ca/businesses/business-licences/)
  - Official wording: "A Business Licence is required by every business (including non-profit Societies, home based businesses, and out of town businesses)"
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3212, 2020 (PDF, amendments to August 24, 2026), Schedule D](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/181386)
  - Official wording: "2. From every other business" … "operated from a property within" … "$100.00" … "$125.00" … "$50.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Limits:** Max 1 non-resident employee; area up to 40% of the dwelling or of an accessory building, up to 50 m² each (70 m² combined); 1 motor vehicle; no outdoor storage. In multi-unit dwellings: no clients, patrons, customers or non-resident employees on site and no sign. Parking: 1 space where the public attends.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 3166, 2017 (PDF, amendments to August 24, 2026), section 3.18, s. 3.18.2, 3.18.3, 3.18.4, 3.28.1](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/175322)
  - Official wording: "Maximum number of non-resident" … "employees" … "40% of the dwelling unit up to 50 m2" … "Where combined, not more than 70 m2 total" … "Maximum number of motor vehicles" … "(c) Outdoor storage" … "advertisement by means of a sign" … "1 per business where public attends"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Businesses not allowed:** Automobile repair service or autobody; retail sale of goods not directly associated with the business or produced on the parcel; outdoor storage; marshaling or storage of motor vehicles; anything causing odours, vapours, heat, glare, electrical interference or recurring ground vibrations across a parcel line.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 3166, 2017 (PDF, amendments to August 24, 2026), section 3.18, s. 3.18.3](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/175322)
  - Official wording: "A home-based business must not involve any of the following" … "Automobile Repair Service or autobody" … "Retail sale of goods that are not directly associated with the home-based" … "Marshaling or storage of motor vehicles"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw No. 3166, 2017 s. 3.18; Business Licence Regulation Bylaw No. 3117, 2014; Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3212, 2020
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 3166, 2017 (PDF, amendments to August 24, 2026), section 3.18, s. 3.18](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/175322)
  - Official wording: "Residential Accessory Businesses........................................................................................... 17 3.18 Home-Based Business ............................................................................................................. 17 3.19 Bed and Breakfast ....................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined." … "City of Duncan Zoning Bylaw No. 3166, 2017 (With Amendments to August 24, 2026)"
  - Source: [Business Licence Regulation Bylaw No. 3117, 2014, Title](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/37455/)
  - Official wording: "Business Licence Regulation Bylaw No. 3117, 2014"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Every business in the City of Duncan, including a home-based one, needs a City business licence. The rules for home-based businesses are in section 3.18 of the [Zoning Bylaw](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/175322). A home-based business is an accessory use in the Low, Medium and High Density Residential zones and the Highway Corridor Commercial (HCC) zone. In the Downtown, Neighbourhood Commercial, HCC2 and HCC3 zones it is allowed only within a multi-unit dwelling.

## Steps

1. Check the limits below, and ask Development Services (250-746-6126, developmentservices@duncan.ca) to confirm your zone allows it.
2. Complete the Business Licence Application.
3. Send it to City Hall (in person, licence@duncan.ca or by mail) and pay the fee. See the business-licence answer.

## Good to know

- No more than two home-based businesses per dwelling unit, or two per parcel where a suite exists.
- At most one non-resident employee and one motor vehicle.
- The business may use up to 40% of the dwelling or of an accessory building, up to 50 m² each (70 m² combined). Parking is 1 space where the public attends.
- Not allowed: auto repair or autobody work; retail sale of goods not directly associated with the business or produced on the parcel; outdoor storage; storing motor vehicles; and odours, vapours, heat, glare, electrical interference or recurring vibration crossing the parcel line.
- In a multi-unit dwelling, no clients, patrons, customers or non-resident employees on site and no sign.
- An unlawful home-based business is a $100 bylaw notice ($75 if paid within 14 days).

## Official forms and pages

- [Business Licence Application (PDF)](https://duncan.ca/download/business-licence-application-dec-2021/)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 3166 (PDF)](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/175322)

## Related questions

- [Duncan business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/duncan/business-licence.md)
- [Duncan short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/duncan/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)
- [North Cowichan](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/home-based-business.md)
- [Ladysmith](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/home-based-business.md)
- [North Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/home-based-business.md)
- [Lake Cowichan](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/home-based-business.md)
- [Sidney](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sidney/home-based-business.md)
- [Central Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/home-based-business.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 3166, 2017 (PDF, amendments to August 24, 2026), section 3.18](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/175322) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Business Licences, City of Duncan](https://duncan.ca/businesses/business-licences/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3212, 2020 (PDF, amendments to August 24, 2026)](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/181386) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Business Licence Regulation Bylaw No. 3117, 2014 (PDF), City of Duncan](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/37455/) (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 Duncan. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/duncan/home-based-business/_