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

# Township of Langley home-based business rules

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

**Short answer:** In the Township of Langley (not the City of Langley) an accessory home occupation is allowed in all zones that permit a residential use, if you meet the conditions in Zoning Bylaw s. 104.3. The owner must live in the dwelling. You also need a business licence: $50 a year plus a $50 application fee.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Township of Langley, https://www.tol.ca)  
**Cost:** Accessory Home Occupation licence $50 a year, plus a $50 application fee deducted from the first-year licence fee.  
**How long:** Allow at least 30 business days if Building and Fire inspections are required.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Permits, Licences and Inspections, 604-533-6018
- Email: Business licences, buslic@tol.ca
- In person: Civic Facility (Municipal Hall), 20338 - 65 Avenue, Langley, BC V2Y 3J1 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (building permit applications accepted 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.))

## Key facts

- **Allowed:** Yes. Accessory home occupations are permitted in all zones that permit a residential use, subject to the conditions in Zoning Bylaw s. 104.3.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 1987, No. 2500, Section 100 Administration, s. 104.3](https://www.tol.ca/en/services/resources/bylaw-services/bylaws/Zoning-Bylaws/Section-100-Administration.pdf)
  - Official wording: "104.3 Accessory home occupations are permitted in all zones that permit a residential" … "use, subject to the following provision:"
  - Source: [Home-Based Business, Home-based Business page](https://www.tol.ca/en/services/home-based-business.aspx)
  - Official wording: "Ensure your business complies with Section 104.3 of the Township of Langley Zoning Bylaw."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Business licence:** Yes. A business licence is required; the Accessory Home Occupation licence is $50 a year, plus a $50 application fee deducted from the first-year licence fee. Owners who rent need an Owner's Authorization; strata properties need a Strata Consent Form.
  - Source: [Business Licences, Business Licences page](https://www.tol.ca/en/services/business-licences.aspx)
  - Official wording: "All businesses operating in the Township of Langley, including home-based, commercial, and industrial businesses, must have a valid Business Licence."
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw 2007, No. 4616, Schedule 19, Group B](https://www.tol.ca/en/services/resources/bylaw-services/bylaws/Building-Bylaws/Fees-and-Charges-Bylaw-(No.-4616%29.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Accessory Home Occupation $50.00" … "deducted from the Licence Fee payable for the first year. Fee not $50.00"
  - Source: [Home-Based Business, Home-based Business page](https://www.tol.ca/en/services/home-based-business.aspx)
  - Official wording: "If you are not the property owner where the home-based business will operate, an Owner’s Authorization form must be submitted."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Limits:** Owner must live in the dwelling. Floor area up to 50 m² on urban and suburban lots (25 m² in CD and R-CL; 140 or 186 m² on RU). Up to 4 people, one non-resident on urban lots. No outdoor storage; vehicles parked on site; sign per the Sign Bylaw; no commercial vehicle visits 6 p.m. to 8 a.m.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 1987, No. 2500, Section 100 Administration, s. 104.3](https://www.tol.ca/en/services/resources/bylaw-services/bylaws/Zoning-Bylaws/Section-100-Administration.pdf)
  - Official wording: "b) the owner of the accessory home occupation shall live in the same dwelling as" … "iv) 50m2 (538.2 ft2) for urban and suburban zoned lots, that are equal to or" … "v) 25m2 (269.1ft2) for Residential Comprehensive Development (CD)," … "shall not exceed four (4) persons" … "o) the accessory home occupation shall not accommodate commercial vehicle" … "n) there is no evidence of the accessory home occupation, including no exterior" … "shall be unlimited except that all vehicles associated with the accessory home occupation shall be parked on site and not on a public road;" … "storage or operation of the accessory home occupation, except a sign" … "“Township of Langley Sign Bylaw 2012 No. 4927 as amended”;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Businesses not allowed:** Not allowed within a secondary suite. No motor vehicle salvage, repair, maintenance or sales, and no manufacturing or fabrication. No business that gives off odour, noise, glare or similar, or causes traffic congestion or fire or health hazards.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 1987, No. 2500, Section 100 Administration, s. 104.3 a); i)](https://www.tol.ca/en/services/resources/bylaw-services/bylaws/Zoning-Bylaws/Section-100-Administration.pdf)
  - Official wording: "a) an accessory home occupation is not permitted within a secondary suite;" … "motor vehicle engines or parts or manufacturing or fabrication." … "i) the accessory home occupation shall not:"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Township of Langley Zoning Bylaw 1987 No. 2500, s. 104.3; Licencing Bylaw No. 5878; Fees and Charges Bylaw 2007 No. 4616, Schedule 19
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 1987, No. 2500, Section 100 Administration, s. 101.1](https://www.tol.ca/en/services/resources/bylaw-services/bylaws/Zoning-Bylaws/Section-100-Administration.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Township of Langley Zoning Bylaw 1987 No. 2500"
  - Source: [Licencing Bylaw No. 5878, title](https://www.tol.ca/en/services/resources/bylaw-services/bylaws/Other-Bylaws/Licencing-Bylaw-(No.-5878%29.pdf)
  - Official wording: "LICENCING BYLAW NO. 5878"
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw 2007, No. 4616, title](https://www.tol.ca/en/services/resources/bylaw-services/bylaws/Building-Bylaws/Fees-and-Charges-Bylaw-(No.-4616%29.pdf)
  - Official wording: "FEES AND CHARGES BYLAW 2007 NO. 4616"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The Township of Langley (a separate municipality from the City of Langley) permits accessory home occupations in all zones that permit a residential use, subject to the conditions in section 104.3 of the [Zoning Bylaw](https://www.tol.ca/en/services/resources/bylaw-services/bylaws/Zoning-Bylaws/Section-100-Administration.pdf). These limits apply to urban and suburban lots; other zones differ, so check yours.

- The owner must live in the dwelling.
- Floor area up to 50 m² on urban and suburban lots (25 m² in CD and R-CL zones; 140 or 186 m² on RU lots).
- Up to 4 people, with one non-resident, on urban lots.
- No outdoor storage; vehicles for the business must park on site; signs must follow the Sign Bylaw.
- No commercial vehicle visits from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m.
- The business must not change the residential appearance.

Not allowed: a home occupation within a secondary suite (except in a permitted coach house not used for residential purposes); motor vehicle salvage, repair, maintenance or sales; manufacturing or fabrication; and any business that gives off odour, noise or glare, or causes traffic congestion or fire or health hazards.

## Steps

1. Check your zone with GeoSource (see the zoning-lookup answer) and the section 104.3 conditions.
2. Apply online for a business licence (see the business-licence answer). Renters need an Owner's Authorization; strata properties need a Strata Consent Form.
3. Pay the $50 licence fee and the $50 application fee, which is deducted from the first-year licence fee.

## Good to know

- Licences run to December 31 on a single calendar-year cycle.
- Family daycares (up to eight children) need proof of application to Fraser Health.
- In RU zones, up to 2 or 3 non-resident employees are allowed depending on lot size. In CD and R-CL zones all workers must live there and only office use is allowed.
- An unlawful home occupation is a $500 bylaw notice.

## Official forms and pages

- [Zoning Bylaw 1987, No. 2500, Section 100 Administration (PDF)](https://www.tol.ca/en/services/resources/bylaw-services/bylaws/Zoning-Bylaws/Section-100-Administration.pdf)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw 2007, No. 4616 (PDF)](https://www.tol.ca/en/services/resources/bylaw-services/bylaws/Building-Bylaws/Fees-and-Charges-Bylaw-(No.-4616%29.pdf)
- [Licencing Bylaw No. 5878 (PDF)](https://www.tol.ca/en/services/resources/bylaw-services/bylaws/Other-Bylaws/Licencing-Bylaw-(No.-5878%29.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Township of Langley business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley-township/business-licence.md)
- [Township of Langley secondary suite and carriage house rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley-township/secondary-suite.md)
- [Township of Langley zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley-township/zoning-lookup.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Home-based business rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/home-based-business.md)
- [Langley City](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley/home-based-business.md)
- [Surrey](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/surrey/home-based-business.md)
- [White Rock](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/white-rock/home-based-business.md)
- [Maple Ridge](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/maple-ridge/home-based-business.md)
- [Port Coquitlam](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-coquitlam/home-based-business.md)
- [Mission](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mission/home-based-business.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw 1987, No. 2500, Section 100 Administration (PDF)](https://www.tol.ca/en/services/resources/bylaw-services/bylaws/Zoning-Bylaws/Section-100-Administration.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Home-Based Business, Township of Langley](https://www.tol.ca/en/services/home-based-business.aspx) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Business Licences, Township of Langley](https://www.tol.ca/en/services/business-licences.aspx) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw 2007, No. 4616 (PDF)](https://www.tol.ca/en/services/resources/bylaw-services/bylaws/Building-Bylaws/Fees-and-Charges-Bylaw-(No.-4616%29.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Licencing Bylaw No. 5878 (PDF)](https://www.tol.ca/en/services/resources/bylaw-services/bylaws/Other-Bylaws/Licencing-Bylaw-(No.-5878%29.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2008, No. 4703 (PDF)](https://www.tol.ca/en/services/resources/bylaw-services/bylaws/Other-Bylaws/Bylaw-Notice-Enforcement-Bylaw-2008-(No.-4703%29.pdf) (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 Langley. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley-township/home-based-business/_