---
title: Esquimalt home-based business rules
question: "Can I run a business from my home in Esquimalt?"
place: Esquimalt, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/esquimalt
category: Starting and running a business
owner: municipal
owner_body: Township of Esquimalt
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/home-based-business/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/home-based-business.json"
---

# Esquimalt home-based business rules

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

**Short answer:** In Esquimalt you can run a home occupation in single-family residential zones such as RS-1 if it meets section 13 of the Zoning Bylaw, and you need a Township business licence. A home occupation licence is $100 a year; a home craft is $50.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Township of Esquimalt, https://www.esquimalt.ca)  
**Cost:** Business licence: $100 a year for a home occupation, $50 for home crafts (Bylaw 3144, Schedule A).  
**How long:** Not stated by the Township.  
**Where:**
- Online: MyEsquimalt (business licences), https://online.esquimalt.ca/LIVEWEB/LoginManager/
- Phone: Business licensing, 250-414-7136
- Email: Business licensing, business@esquimalt.ca
- Phone: Development Services (zoning), 250-414-7103

## Key facts

- **Allowed:** Yes. Home Occupation is a permitted use in the single-family residential zones (for example RS-1), as long as it meets the conditions in section 13 of the Zoning Bylaw.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw, 1992, No. 2050 (PDF, consolidated Sept. 3, 2026), s. 34(1)(b) RS-1; s. 13](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-1992-no-2050-september-3-2026pdf)
  - Official wording: "(b) Home Occupation" … "A Home Occupation is permitted provided:"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Business licence:** Yes. No person may carry on a business in Esquimalt without a licence, and home occupations are included. Bylaw 3144 Schedule A sets Home Occupations at $100 and Home Crafts at $50 a year.
  - Source: [Business Licences, Business Licences page](https://www.esquimalt.ca/business-development/business-licences)
  - Official wording: "This applies to all resident businesses, including home occupations"
  - Source: [Business Classifications and Fees, Business Classifications & Fees](https://www.esquimalt.ca/business-development/business-licences/application-and-business-classifications)
  - Official wording: "Home Occupations (Guidelines) | $100.00" … "Home Crafts | $50.00"
  - Source: [Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw No. 3144, council agenda copy (Legistar), s. 12.1; Schedule A](https://esquimalt.ca.legistar.com/View.ashx?GUID=EC763462-8CB9-4BC0-80C9-4D5003264CCC&ID=62029&M=F)
  - Official wording: "No person shall carry on a business within the Municipality unless they are the" … "Home Occupations $ 100.00" … "Home Crafts $ 50.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Limits:** At most 15% of the dwelling's floor area and no more than 46 m², all inside the dwelling or accessory buildings; no outside storage or evidence of the business except a sign following the Sign Bylaw; only a resident of the dwelling runs it, and employees must be immediate family living there; no noise, odour or other nuisance; traffic and parking not beyond what is normal for the neighbourhood. Only one home occupation that typically has more than one client at a time per dwelling, and no more than two home occupations in total.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw, 1992, No. 2050 (PDF, consolidated Sept. 3, 2026), s. 13(1)-(8)](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-1992-no-2050-september-3-2026pdf)
  - Official wording: "the Home Occupation shall not occupy more than 15% of the Gross Floor" … "there is no evidence of the Home Occupation Use, including no exterior" … "the Home Occupation Use is conducted only by a resident of the Dwelling" … "no person other than a member of the immediate Family occupying the" … "subject however to a maximum of two (2) Home" … "shall not exceed 46 square metres;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Businesses not allowed:** No servicing or repair of automobiles, vehicles, boats, bicycles, machinery, heavy equipment or major appliances; no body painting establishment, body rub parlour, dating service or escort service.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw, 1992, No. 2050 (PDF, consolidated Sept. 3, 2026), s. 13(9), (11)](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-1992-no-2050-september-3-2026pdf)
  - Official wording: "no automobile, vehicle, boat, bicycle, machinery, heavy equipment, or major" … "no Body Painting Establishment, Body Rub Parlour, Dating Service and/or"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw, 1992, No. 2050, s. 13 (Home Occupations); Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw, 2024, No. 3144
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw, 1992, No. 2050 (PDF, consolidated Sept. 3, 2026), s. 13](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-1992-no-2050-september-3-2026pdf)
  - Official wording: "Not more than one (1) Principal Building shall be located on any Parcel zoned Single Family or Two Family Residential. 13. HOME OCCUPATIONS A Home Occupation is permitted provided: 22" … "CORPORATION OF THE TOWNSHIP OF ESQUIMALT ZONING BYLAW, 1992, NO. 2050 CONSOLIDATED FOR CONVENIENCE"
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, 2014, No. 2839 (PDF, consolidated), Schedule F](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/2026-09-bylaw-2839-bylaw-notice-enforcement-consolidation)
  - Official wording: "Business License and Regulation Bylaw, 2024, No. 3144"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Home occupation is a permitted use in Esquimalt's single-family residential zones (for example RS-1; also RS-2, RS-3, RS-5, RS-6 and RSM-1) as long as it meets section 13 of the [Zoning Bylaw, 1992, No. 2050](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-1992-no-2050-september-3-2026pdf). You also need a business licence: no one may carry on a business in Esquimalt without one, and home occupations are included. The Township's [Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw, 2024, No. 3144](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/business-licence-and-regulation-bylaw-2024-no-3144-0) sets Home Occupations at $100 and Home Crafts at $50 a year.

## Steps

1. Check your zone allows home occupations (see the zoning-lookup answer).
2. Make sure your business meets the limits below.
3. Apply for a business licence through MyEsquimalt or in person; call 250-414-7136 or email business@esquimalt.ca.
4. Renew each year (see the business-licence answer).

## Good to know

- Size: at most 15% of the dwelling's floor area and no more than 46 m², all inside the dwelling or accessory buildings.
- No outside storage or evidence of the business, except a sign that follows the Sign Bylaw.
- Only a resident of the dwelling may run it, and employees must be immediate family living there.
- No noise, odour or other nuisance, and traffic and parking must not go beyond what is normal for the neighbourhood.
- Only one home occupation that typically has more than one client at a time per dwelling, and no more than two home occupations in total. More than one client at a time is not allowed in a secondary suite or detached suite.
- Not allowed: servicing or repair of automobiles, vehicles, boats, bicycles, machinery, heavy equipment or major appliances; body painting establishments, body rub parlours, dating services and escort services.
- An unlawful home occupation is a bylaw notice of $300 ($250 if paid early, $350 if late).
- The adopted licence bylaw PDF is a scan; fees here match the Township's web page.

## Official forms and pages

- [Zoning Bylaw, 1992, No. 2050 (PDF)](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-1992-no-2050-september-3-2026pdf)
- [Business Licences, Township of Esquimalt](https://www.esquimalt.ca/business-development/business-licences)

## Related questions

- [Esquimalt business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/business-licence.md)
- [Esquimalt zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Esquimalt secondary suite and carriage house rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/secondary-suite.md)
- [Esquimalt short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/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)
- [View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/home-based-business.md)
- [Victoria](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/home-based-business.md)
- [Colwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/home-based-business.md)
- [Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/home-based-business.md)
- [Oak Bay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oak-bay/home-based-business.md)
- [Langford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/home-based-business.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw, 1992, No. 2050 (PDF, consolidated Sept. 3, 2026), Township of Esquimalt](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-1992-no-2050-september-3-2026pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Business Licences, Township of Esquimalt](https://www.esquimalt.ca/business-development/business-licences) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Business Classifications and Fees, Township of Esquimalt](https://www.esquimalt.ca/business-development/business-licences/application-and-business-classifications) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw, 2024, No. 3144 (PDF, scanned), Township of Esquimalt](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/business-licence-and-regulation-bylaw-2024-no-3144-0) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw No. 3144, council agenda copy (Legistar), Township of Esquimalt](https://esquimalt.ca.legistar.com/View.ashx?GUID=EC763462-8CB9-4BC0-80C9-4D5003264CCC&ID=62029&M=F) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, 2014, No. 2839 (PDF, consolidated), Township of Esquimalt](https://www.esquimalt.ca/media/file/2026-09-bylaw-2839-bylaw-notice-enforcement-consolidation) (read 2026-11-06)

_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 Township of Esquimalt. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/home-based-business/_