---
title: Mission home-based business rules
question: "Can I run a business from my home?"
place: Mission, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/mission
category: Starting and running a business
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Mission
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mission/home-based-business/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mission/home-based-business.json"
---

# Mission home-based business rules

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

**Short answer:** Yes. In the City of Mission a home occupation is allowed in all A, RU, RR, S, R and UC zones and many others if you live on the lot and the business is entirely inside a building. You need a home occupation business licence, $158 a year in 2026.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Mission, https://www.mission.ca)  
**Cost:** $158 a year (2026); non-profit organizations pay $10. Renewal is every calendar year.  
**How long:** Not stated. Staff review the application and follow up.  
**Where:**
- Email: Business Licensing, businesslicence@mission.ca
- Phone: Business Licensing, 604-820-3791
- Email: Planning (zoning questions), planning@mission.ca (604-820-3748)
- In person: Welton Common, 7337 Welton Street, Mission, BC V2V 3X1

## Key facts

- **Allowed:** Yes, as a Home Occupation, in all A, RU, RR, S, R and UC zones and many other zones listed in s. 106. The operator must live on the lot and the business must be entirely inside a building.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 5949-2020 (PDF, consolidated), s. 102, 106, 107, s. 106 (use table); s. 107 A.1(a), (b); s. 102 (definition)](https://www.mission.ca/media/file/5949-2020-zoning-bylaw-completepdf)
  - Official wording: "Home Occupation All A zones, CD7, CD9, CD14, CD17, CD20, CD27, CD20," … "all RU zones, all RR zones, all S zones, all R zones, all UC zones" … "Home Occupations shall be entirely enclosed within a Building." … "Operator(s) of the Home Occupation must reside on the Lot where the Home Occupation is"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Business licence:** Yes. A home occupation business licence is required, at $158 a year (2026). The application must show you have read Zoning Bylaw section 107.
  - Source: [Business Licences, Business Licences page](https://www.mission.ca/business-licence)
  - Official wording: "Accessory home occupations are required to read through the Home Occupation Use (Zoning Bylaw 5949-2020 Section 107) and indicate that this has been read on the business licence application form." … "The current Business Licence fee for 2026 is $158.00."
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw 3964-2007, Schedule A, Schedule A, class 18.00](https://www.mission.ca/media/file/business-licence-bylaw-3964-2007pdf)
  - Official wording: "ALL FEES FOR THE CLASSIFICATIONS LISTED BELOW ARE $158.00 ANNUALLY" … "From every person carrying on the business of a home occupation regulated by"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Limits:** Up to 10 patrons or students at one time; retail sales under 10 m²; 1 parking space per non-resident employee. Floor space for all home occupations per dwelling: 56 m² inside the Urban Growth Boundary except Suburban Residential; 140 m² on rural and suburban lots of 1.8 ha or less, 186 m² above that. Employees: 3 (2 non-resident) inside the boundary except Suburban Residential; 4 or 5 on rural and suburban lots.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 5949-2020 (PDF, consolidated), s. 102, 106, 107, s. 107 A.1(d), (e), (g); s. 107 C.3; s. 109](https://www.mission.ca/media/file/5949-2020-zoning-bylaw-completepdf)
  - Official wording: "The maximum number of patrons or students for all Home Occupations on a Lot shall be limited to" … "10 patrons or students assembled at one time." … "retail sales of goods shall be limited to a Floor Space" … "of less than 10.0 sq m (108.0 sq ft)." … "a Home Occupation shall have a maximum of three (3) employees including not more than" … "Home Occupation 1.0 space per every non-resident employee, plus 1.0" … "All OCP designations within the Urban Growth Boundary," … "On a Lot located within the Urban Growth Boundary, other than a Lot designated Suburban Residential, a Home Occupation shall have a maximum of three (3) employees"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Businesses not allowed:** Prohibited: adult entertainment, accommodation, motor vehicle uses, cultural, entertainment, recreation and waterfront uses, drive-throughs, driving schools, drycleaners, cheque cashing, cannabis production, supportive recovery. Most food, industrial, institutional and retail uses are also barred, with exceptions such as minor restaurant, light manufacturing, child care and minor retail. Nothing noisy, smelly or traffic-heavy.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 5949-2020 (PDF, consolidated), s. 102, 106, 107, s. 107 B.1, B.2](https://www.mission.ca/media/file/5949-2020-zoning-bylaw-completepdf)
  - Official wording: "The following Uses, or Use groups, are prohibited as a Home Occupation:" … "all Food and Beverage Uses, except that Restaurant (Minor) is permitted;" … "all Industrial Uses, except that Industrial (Light Manufacturing) is permitted;" … "all Retail Uses, except that Retail (Minor), Produce Sales, and Second Hand Store are permitted;" … "result in traffic congestion, electrical interference, fire hazard or health hazards;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw 5949-2020, Section 107 (Home Occupations); Business Licence Bylaw 3964-2007
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 5949-2020 (PDF, consolidated), s. 102, 106, 107, s. 107](https://www.mission.ca/media/file/5949-2020-zoning-bylaw-completepdf)
  - Official wording: "SECTION 107 HOME OCCUPATIONS"
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw 3964-2007, Schedule A, title](https://www.mission.ca/media/file/business-licence-bylaw-3964-2007pdf)
  - Official wording: "BUSINESS LICENCE BYLAW 3964-2007"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The City of Mission's [Zoning Bylaw 5949-2020](https://www.mission.ca/media/file/5949-2020-zoning-bylaw-completepdf) lets residents carry on an occupation, business or profession within their dwelling unit (a "home occupation") if they live on the lot and the business is entirely inside a building. The business licence application must show you have read section 107.

## Steps

1. Read section 107 of the Zoning Bylaw. Ask Planning (604-820-3748) if you are unsure.
2. Complete the Home Occupation application and questionnaire.
3. Email it to businesslicence@mission.ca or bring it to 7337 Welton Street, and pay the fee.

## Good to know

- Limits: up to 10 patrons or students at one time; retail sales under 10 m²; 1 parking space per non-resident employee.
- Floor space for all home occupations per dwelling: 56 m² inside the Urban Growth Boundary (except Suburban Residential); 140 m² on rural and suburban lots of 1.8 ha or less; 186 m² above that.
- Employees: 3 (2 non-resident) inside the Urban Growth Boundary except Suburban Residential; 4 or 5 on rural and suburban lots.
- Prohibited: adult entertainment, accommodation uses, motor vehicle uses, cultural, entertainment, recreation and waterfront uses, drive-throughs, driving schools, drycleaners, cheque cashing, cannabis production and supportive recovery. Most food, industrial, institutional and retail uses are also barred, with exceptions such as minor restaurant, light manufacturing, child care and minor retail. Nothing noisy, smelly or traffic-heavy.
- Short-term rentals are allowed separately under s. 107 D; see the short-term rental answer.

## What you'll need

- Completed Home Occupation application and questionnaire

## Official forms and pages

- [Home Occupation Application and Questionnaire (PDF)](https://www.mission.ca/media/file/home-occupation-application-form)
- [Zoning Bylaw 5949-2020, Section 107 Home Occupations (PDF)](https://www.mission.ca/media/file/5949-2020-zoning-bylaw-completepdf)

## Related questions

- [Mission business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mission/business-licence.md)
- [Mission short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mission/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)
- [Abbotsford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/home-based-business.md)
- [Township of Langley](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley-township/home-based-business.md)
- [Maple Ridge](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/maple-ridge/home-based-business.md)
- [Langley City](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley/home-based-business.md)
- [Pitt Meadows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pitt-meadows/home-based-business.md)
- [Chilliwack](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chilliwack/home-based-business.md)

## Sources

- [Business Licences, City of Mission](https://www.mission.ca/business-licence) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning Bylaw 5949-2020 (PDF, consolidated), s. 102, 106, 107](https://www.mission.ca/media/file/5949-2020-zoning-bylaw-completepdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Business Licence Bylaw 3964-2007 (PDF), Schedule A](https://www.mission.ca/media/file/business-licence-bylaw-3964-2007pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [How to Start a Business in Mission, City of Mission](https://www.mission.ca/business-licence/how-start-business-mission) (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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Mission. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mission/home-based-business/_