Kent home-based business rules
Can I run a business from my home?
Short answer
Yes, in most zones in the District of Kent. Home occupations are an auxiliary use and you need a business licence. Only one home occupation is allowed, and size, staff and vehicle limits depend on your zone and business type.
Key facts
| Allowed | Yes. Home occupations are an auxiliary use in most agricultural, rural residential, lake, RS1 and multiple-dwelling residential zones, as listed in the bylaw's tables, and must be auxiliary to the single dwelling or farm residence. The resident must be a registered owner of the business. Only one home occupation is allowed (a second is allowed if there is no increase in area, staff or vehicles).Zoning Bylaw No. 1219, 2001 (PDF, consolidated October 6, 2025), s. 7.12.1; Zoning Bylaw No. 1219, 2001 (PDF, consolidated October 6, 2025), Table 7.12.6(b) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingHome occupations shall be auxiliary to the single dwelling residential A home occupation use shall only be permitted when the resident(s) of the A, A1, MR, RR1, RR2, RR3 RS1, RL, and CD2 (excluding multiple- |
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| Business licence | Yes. Anyone carrying on business in the District needs a licence. The fee schedule lists $500 plus $1 per m² for a home occupation in or partly in a building other than the single family residence; other businesses not listed pay $125. It has no separate line for a home occupation inside the house; confirm with the Licence Inspector.Business Licencing and Regulation Bylaw No. 1747, 2025, s. 3.1; Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1717, 2023 (PDF, consolidated), Sch. B, Business licence fees · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingA person must not engage in or carry on a business within the District unless Home Occupation conducted within or All other Businesses not listed above |
| Limits | Typical limits (table 7.12.6(b)): inside the house, under 20% of its floor area and at most 46 m² in RS1, RL and CD2; up to 75 m² on rural lots under 0.2 ha and 140 m² on 0.2 ha or more; 1 non-resident employee (up to 2 or 4 on rural lots); 1 business vehicle under 3,900 kg; no unenclosed storage in RS1; no street parking; one sign; no external alterations.Zoning Bylaw No. 1219, 2001 (PDF, consolidated October 6, 2025), Table 7.12.6(b); Zoning Bylaw No. 1219, 2001 (PDF, consolidated October 6, 2025), s. 7.12.5; Zoning Bylaw No. 1219, 2001 (PDF, consolidated October 6, 2025), s. 7.12.1(f) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingshall occupy less than twenty percent not to exceed 46 square metres (495 square feet) Shall not exceed 75 square metres (807 square feet) Shall not to exceed 140 square metres (1,507 Off-street parking shall be provided for the home occupation use such that no customer vehicles, business vehicles, or employee vehicles are parked on the A home occupation shall not involve external structural alterations to the |
| Businesses not allowed | Any use not listed is not permitted. Listed as not permitted: auto wrecking, restaurants and cafes, sales of motor vehicles, RVs and boats, vehicle repair shops, cabinet makers, fitness facilities, taxi or courier service, storage facilities, veterinary clinics and boarding kennels, welding shops, second-hand stores, private schools.Zoning Bylaw No. 1219, 2001 (PDF, consolidated October 6, 2025), s. 7.12.7 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNon permitted home occupation uses are those not specifically listed as well as automotive wrecking and salvage taxi or courier service storage facility |
| Bylaw | Zoning Bylaw No. 1219, 2001, s. 7.12; Business Licencing and Regulation Bylaw No. 1747, 2025Zoning Bylaw No. 1219, 2001 (PDF, consolidated October 6, 2025), s. 7.12; Business Licencing and Regulation Bylaw No. 1747, 2025, s. 1.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wording7.11 Vision Clearance at Intersections .................................................. 42 7.12 Home Occupations ........................................................................ 42 7.13 Short-term Rentals ......................................................................... 52 Zoning Bylaw No. 1219, 2001 February 2002 Business Licencing and Regulation |
How it works
Under the District's Zoning Bylaw No. 1219 (section 7.12), a home occupation is an auxiliary use in most agricultural, rural residential, lake, RS1 and multiple-dwelling residential zones, as the zone tables list. It must be auxiliary to the single dwelling or farm residence, and the resident must be a registered owner of the business. Only one home occupation is allowed (a second is allowed if there is no increase in area, staff or vehicles).
Anyone carrying on business in the District needs a licence under Bylaw No. 1747. The Fees and Charges Bylaw lists $500 plus $1 per m² for a home occupation in or partly in a building other than the single family residence. Other businesses not listed pay $125. There is no separate line for a home occupation inside the house.
Steps
- Check your zone and the home occupation table in the Zoning Bylaw.
- Contact the Licence Inspector (604-796-2235) to confirm which fee applies.
- Apply for the business licence (see the business-licence answer).
Good to know
- Typical limits (table 7.12.6(b)): inside the house, under 20% of its floor area and at most 46 m² in RS1, RL and CD2; up to 75 m² on rural lots under 0.2 ha and 140 m² on 0.2 ha or more; 1 non-resident employee (up to 2 or 4 on rural lots); 1 business vehicle under 3,900 kg; no unenclosed storage in RS1; no street parking; one sign; no external alterations.
- Condo and townhouse zones: entirely inside the unit, under 20% of floor area and 19 m², no employees, at most 2 clients at a time.
- Large trade home occupations (contractor, mechanic, welder, transport truck) need larger lots, 0.4 to 1.6 ha.
- Not permitted: auto wrecking, restaurants and cafes, sales of motor vehicles, RVs and boats, vehicle repair shops, cabinet makers, fitness facilities, taxi or courier service, storage facilities, veterinary clinics and boarding kennels, welding shops, second-hand stores, private schools. Any use not listed is not permitted.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Harrison Hot Springs · Chilliwack · Hope · Abbotsford · Mission · Maple Ridge
Home-based business rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Zoning Bylaw No. 1219, 2001 (PDF, consolidated October 6, 2025) (read 2026-11-06)
- Business Licencing and Regulation Bylaw No. 1747, 2025 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
- Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1717, 2023 (PDF, consolidated) (read 2026-11-06)
- Contacts directory, District of Kent (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.