Langley City home-based business rules
Can I run a business from my home?
Short answer
Yes. Langley City allows home occupations in residential zones if you live there, with at most one non-resident employee, no nuisance and no outside sign beyond a small nameplate. You still need a City business licence: $234 a year plus a $60 application fee, $294 in total for 2026.
Key facts
| Allowed | Yes. Home occupations are permitted in all residential zones, and are accessory uses in R1, R2, R3, R3a, R4, R5, R5a, C1 and A1 (bed and breakfast excluded in all of these except R1 and A1).Zoning Bylaw 2025, No. 3300, s. 2.4(b); zone use lists; Zoning Bylaw 2025, No. 3300, s. 1.3 definition · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingHome Occupations shall be permitted in all Residential Zones provided that such a. Home Occupation, excluding bed and breakfast and Child Care Accessory Uses a. Home Occupation Home occupation means an occupation or profession carried on in a dwelling unit as an |
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| Business licence | Yes. Home-based businesses need a City business licence. Fee: $234 a year plus a $60 application administration fee, $294 in total for 2026. A new licence issued after January 1 is pro-rated by month.Business Licences, Intro; Fees; Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2837 (PDF, consolidated December 15, 2025), Schedule 5; Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw No. 2916 (PDF, consolidated June 19, 2023), s. 36(2) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThis includes retail, commercial, industrial operations, home-based businesses, owners of residential rental properties, and registered nonprofit operations. Home Based Business | $234.00 | $60.00 | $ 294.00 Home Occupation $ 234.00 Business Licence Application Administration Fee: $60.00 The Licence fee shall be pro-rated on a monthly basis for any business licence that is issued for a new Home occupation businesses must be in compliance with all home occupation regulations |
| Limits | Run by a resident, with at most one non-resident employee. No public offence or nuisance (noise, vibration, smoke, odour, dust, heat, glare, interference). No outward sign of the business except a nameplate up to 0.2 m²; no displays, floodlighting, storage of materials or altered building appearance.Zoning Bylaw 2025, No. 3300, s. 2.4(b)(i)-(iii) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingMust be conducted by a resident of the Dwelling Unit in which they are permitted and shall not employ more than one person not resident therein. Shall meet all Provincial and Federal health and safety requirements and produce Shall not give any external indication of the existence of the occupation, other than a name plate not exceeding 0.2 m2 by displays, floodlighting, storage of |
| Businesses not allowed | Bed and breakfast: not allowed as a home occupation in R2, R3, R3a, R4, R5, R5a and C1. Child care centre: only in R1 on lots with no secondary suite, garden suite, carriage home or plex home, and no other home occupation in that house. Personal service is limited to hair salons and barber shops.Zoning Bylaw 2025, No. 3300, s. 2.4(b)(iv)-(v); s. 1.3 definition; Zoning Bylaw 2025, No. 3300, R2 zone s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingChild Care Centre is permitted as a home occupation on R1 Suburban Residential lots, except on properties containing Secondary Suites, Garden Suites, or Carriage Homes or within Plex-Home buildings. No other home occupations may be operated in single detached residential Home occupations include personal service limited to hair salon and barber shops. a. Home Occupations excluding bed and breakfast and child care |
| Bylaw | City of Langley Zoning Bylaw, 2025, No. 3300 (s. 2.4(b)); City of Langley Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw, 2013, No. 2916Zoning Bylaw 2025, No. 3300, s. 1.1; Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw No. 2916 (PDF, consolidated June 19, 2023), s. 1(1) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingmay be cited as “City of Langley Zoning Bylaw, 2025, No. 3300”. City of Langley Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw, 2013, No. 2916 |
How it works
Under section 2.4(b) of the Zoning Bylaw, home occupations are permitted in all residential zones. They are accessory uses in R1, R2, R3, R3a, R4, R5, R5a, C1 and A1. The bylaw lists no home occupation in industrial, institutional or other commercial zones.
Rules: the business is run by a resident, with at most one non-resident employee. There must be no public offence or nuisance (noise, vibration, smoke, odour, dust, heat, glare, interference). There is no outward sign of the business except a nameplate up to 0.2 square metres, and no displays, floodlighting, storage of materials or altered building appearance.
Steps
- Check your lot's zone and confirm your business is allowed (see the zoning lookup answer).
- Apply for a City business licence (see the business licence answer).
- Pay the licence fee. It expires December 31 each year.
Good to know
- Not allowed as a home occupation: a bed and breakfast in R2, R3, R3a, R4, R5, R5a and C1; child care centres in R2 to R5a.
- A child care centre is allowed only in R1 on lots with no secondary suite, garden suite, carriage home or plex home, and no other home occupation in that house. Personal service is limited to hair salons and barber shops.
- Uses banned in every zone, such as adult entertainment, escort services, pawnbroking, cheque-cashing and payday lending, are not allowed.
- The bylaw sets no limit on floor area, customers or clients, parking or vehicles that we found. Ask Planning.
- 75% of the fee is refunded if the home business stops within 3 months of issue and you ask on the City's form.
- Fees rise each January 1 by the Vancouver consumer price index.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Township of Langley · Surrey · White Rock · Port Coquitlam · Coquitlam · New Westminster
Home-based business rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Zoning Bylaw 2025, No. 3300 (PDF), City of Langley (read 2026-11-05)
- Business Licences, City of Langley (read 2026-11-05)
- Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw No. 2916 (PDF, consolidated June 19, 2023) (read 2026-11-05)
- Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2837 (PDF, consolidated December 15, 2025), Schedule 5 (read 2026-11-05)
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.