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Esquimalt home-based business rules

Can I run a business from my home in Esquimalt?

Esquimalt, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-06

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.

Key facts

AllowedYes. 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.Zoning Bylaw, 1992, No. 2050 (PDF, consolidated Sept. 3, 2026), s. 34(1)(b) RS-1; s. 13 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
(b) Home Occupation
A Home Occupation is permitted provided:
Business licenceYes. 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.Business Licences, Business Licences page; Business Classifications and Fees, Business Classifications & Fees; Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw No. 3144, council agenda copy (Legistar), s. 12.1; Schedule A · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
This applies to all resident businesses, including home occupations
Home Occupations (Guidelines) | $100.00
Home Crafts | $50.00
No person shall carry on a business within the Municipality unless they are the
Home Occupations $ 100.00
Home Crafts $ 50.00
LimitsAt 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.Zoning Bylaw, 1992, No. 2050 (PDF, consolidated Sept. 3, 2026), s. 13(1)-(8) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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;
Businesses not allowedNo 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.Zoning Bylaw, 1992, No. 2050 (PDF, consolidated Sept. 3, 2026), s. 13(9), (11) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
no automobile, vehicle, boat, bicycle, machinery, heavy equipment, or major
no Body Painting Establishment, Body Rub Parlour, Dating Service and/or
BylawZoning Bylaw, 1992, No. 2050, s. 13 (Home Occupations); Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw, 2024, No. 3144Zoning Bylaw, 1992, No. 2050 (PDF, consolidated Sept. 3, 2026), s. 13; Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, 2014, No. 2839 (PDF, consolidated), Schedule F · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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
Business License and Regulation Bylaw, 2024, No. 3144

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. 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 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

The same question in other places

View Royal · Victoria · Colwood · Saanich · Oak Bay · Langford

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

Sources

  1. Zoning Bylaw, 1992, No. 2050 (PDF, consolidated Sept. 3, 2026), Township of Esquimalt (read 2026-11-06)
  2. Business Licences, Township of Esquimalt (read 2026-11-06)
  3. Business Classifications and Fees, Township of Esquimalt (read 2026-11-06)
  4. Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw, 2024, No. 3144 (PDF, scanned), Township of Esquimalt (read 2026-11-06)
  5. Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw No. 3144, council agenda copy (Legistar), Township of Esquimalt (read 2026-11-06)
  6. Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, 2014, No. 2839 (PDF, consolidated), Township of Esquimalt (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. How answers are checked.