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

# Ladysmith home-based business rules

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

**Short answer:** Yes, in Ladysmith you can run up to two home based businesses per parcel in zones that allow them, including RU-1, R-1, R-1-A, R-2, R-2-B and R-3. You need a Town business licence ($100 a year) and must meet the size and staffing limits in the Zoning Bylaw.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Town of Ladysmith, https://www.ladysmith.ca)  
**Cost:** Business licence $100 a year ($50 for a new business applying July 1 to December 31).  
**How long:** Not stated.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Financial Services Coordinator (business licences), 250-245-6414 ext. 6210
- Email: Business licences, bl@ladysmith.ca
- Phone: Development Services (zoning), 250-245-6415

## Key facts

- **Allowed:** Yes, as an accessory use in zones that list it (including RU-1, R-1, R-1-A, R-2, R-2-B and R-3). Up to two home based businesses per parcel, in the dwelling, a secondary suite, a coach house or an accessory building.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 2014, No. 1860 (PDF, consolidated September 29, 2026), s. 6.8(a)-(b)](https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/1860-schedule-a_zoning-bylaw-text-consolidation-sept-29-2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No more than two Home Based Businesses shall be permitted on a Parcel." … "Home Based Businesses shall be permitted in the Principal Dwelling Unit, a" … "Secondary Suite, a Coach House Dwelling, and in an Accessory Building." … "Home Based Business, subject to Part 6, Section 6.8."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Business licence:** Yes. All home based businesses need a business licence, renewed annually: $100 a year ($50 for a new business applying July 1 to December 31).
  - Source: [Home Based Business Guide, Other Considerations](https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/b-d---informational-documents-2021/home-based-business-guide.pdf?sfvrsn=25228ba3_2)
  - Official wording: "All home based business require a business licence"
  - Source: [Business Licences](https://www.ladysmith.ca/business-development/business-resources/business-licences)
  - Official wording: "The cost of an annual business licence is $100." … "If you are a new business to Ladysmith and apply between July 1st and December 31st, your cost will be prorated to $50."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Limits:** Up to 40 m² or 40% of the dwelling unit, whichever is less (coach house: 40 m² or 50%). Two people employed, one a resident (no non-resident staff in a suite or coach house). Retail only of items made on site, 6 m² maximum. No outdoor storage, except 45 m² enclosed for contractors and trades. Parking on the parcel.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 2014, No. 1860 (PDF, consolidated September 29, 2026), s. 6.8(c)](https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/1860-schedule-a_zoning-bylaw-text-consolidation-sept-29-2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Not more than two persons may be employed on a Parcel at any time in a" … "Shall not exceed a maximum of 40.0 square metres Gross Floor Area or 40 percent of the Dwelling Unit Gross Floor Area, whichever is less." … "Shall not exceed a maximum of 6.0 square metres of the maximum area of a" … "Shall not involve the outdoor storage of material, equipment, apparatus, tools" … "Shall accommodate on the Parcel any parking required for the Use of the" … "maximum of 45 square metres of enclosed outdoor storage space on the" … "of two students on the premises per instructor at any one time."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Businesses not allowed:** No home business types are banned by name, but kennels, pawnshops and drive-through uses are prohibited in every zone. The conditions also rule out retail of goods not made on site (except phone, internet or mail orders), outdoor storage (with a trades exception) and more than two employees.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 2014, No. 1860 (PDF, consolidated September 29, 2026), s. 6.8(c)](https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/1860-schedule-a_zoning-bylaw-text-consolidation-sept-29-2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Shall not involve the ancillary Retail Sales of a product, commodity or" … "materials unless it is produced on the premises, except for products ancillary" … "to telephone, internet or mail order sales, provided the customer does not" … "A Kennel Use." … "A Pawnshop Use." … "A Use with a Drive-through service."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw 2014, No. 1860, s. 6.8 (Home Based Business Regulations); Business License Bylaw 2003, No. 1513.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 2014, No. 1860 (PDF, consolidated September 29, 2026), s. 1.1](https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/1860-schedule-a_zoning-bylaw-text-consolidation-sept-29-2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Schedule A - Zoning Bylaw Text of "Town of Ladysmith Zoning Bylaw 2014, No. 1860"."
  - Source: [Business License Bylaw 2003, No. 1513, title](https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/1513-business-licence-bylaw.pdf?sfvrsn=a8ada13c_19)
  - Official wording: "Business License Bylaw 2003, No. 1513"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under section 6.8 of the [Zoning Bylaw 2014, No. 1860](https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/1860-schedule-a_zoning-bylaw-text-consolidation-sept-29-2026.pdf), a home based business is an accessory use in zones that list it. You may have up to two per parcel, in the dwelling, a secondary suite, a coach house or an accessory building. Check your zone's accessory uses, since a few zones list it differently. All home based businesses need a business licence, renewed annually.

## Limits

- Size: up to 40 m² or 40% of the dwelling unit, whichever is less (coach house: 40 m² or 50%).
- Staff: two people employed, one of them a resident. No non-resident staff in a suite or coach house.
- Retail only of items made on site, 6 m² maximum (phone, internet or mail orders are fine).
- No outdoor storage, except 45 m² of enclosed storage for contractors and trades.
- Parking on the parcel. Instructors may have at most two students at a time.
- The business must stay accessory to the residence and not change its appearance.

## Steps

1. Confirm your zone allows it with Development Services.
2. Complete the Business Licence Application and send it to the Financial Services Coordinator.
3. If you want a sign, apply for a Sign Permit under the Sign & Canopy Bylaw.

## Good to know

- No home business types are banned by name, but kennels, pawnshops and uses with drive-through service are prohibited in every zone.

## Official forms and pages

- [Home Based Business Guide (PDF)](https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/b-d---informational-documents-2021/home-based-business-guide.pdf?sfvrsn=25228ba3_2)

## Related questions

- [Ladysmith business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/business-licence.md)
- [Ladysmith zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Ladysmith secondary suite and carriage house rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/secondary-suite.md)
- [Ladysmith short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/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)
- [Duncan](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/duncan/home-based-business.md)
- [Lake Cowichan](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/home-based-business.md)
- [Nanaimo](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/home-based-business.md)
- [Lantzville](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lantzville/home-based-business.md)
- [North Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/home-based-business.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw 2014, No. 1860 (PDF, consolidated September 29, 2026), Town of Ladysmith](https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/1860-schedule-a_zoning-bylaw-text-consolidation-sept-29-2026.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Home Based Business Guide (PDF), Town of Ladysmith](https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/b-d---informational-documents-2021/home-based-business-guide.pdf?sfvrsn=25228ba3_2) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Business Licences, Town of Ladysmith](https://www.ladysmith.ca/business-development/business-resources/business-licences) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Business License Bylaw 2003, No. 1513 (PDF), Town of Ladysmith](https://www.ladysmith.ca/docs/default-source/bylaws-2021/1513-business-licence-bylaw.pdf?sfvrsn=a8ada13c_19) (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 Town of Ladysmith. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/home-based-business/_