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

# Nanaimo home-based business rules

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

**Short answer:** Yes. The City of Nanaimo allows home-based businesses in any dwelling unit or secondary suite, with a City business licence. Size, customer trips and non-resident staff are capped by the type of home you live in, and some uses (such as restaurants and auto body repair) are banned.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Nanaimo, https://www.nanaimo.ca)  
**Cost:** The City's fee table has no separate home-based line; its general fee for "all other businesses" is $165 a year ($50 for non-profits).  
**Where:**
- Phone: Business Licensing, 250-755-4482
- Email: Business Licensing, business.licence@nanaimo.ca
- Email: Planning (zoning questions), planning@nanaimo.ca

## Key facts

- **Allowed:** Yes. A home-based business is permitted in any dwelling unit or secondary suite regardless of zoning, if it meets all of s. 6.20. It may also be in an accessory building (permanent structure) when the principal use is a single residential dwelling, and in a recreational vehicle in the R11 zone.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 4500 (PDF, consolidated 2026-MAR-23), s. 6.20.1, 6.20.9](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/4500.pdf)
  - Official wording: "A home-based business shall be permitted:" … "in any dwelling unit or secondary suite, regardless of zoning, provided it" … "meets all other applicable requirements of this section; and" … "the principal use on the subject property is a single residential dwelling;" … "the accessory building is a permanent structure."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Business licence:** Yes. At least one resident of the home must hold a business licence for the home-based business. The Fees and Charges Bylaw has no separate home-based line; its general fee for 'All other businesses' is $165 a year (non-profits $50).
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 4500 (PDF, consolidated 2026-MAR-23), s. 6.20.2](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/4500.pdf)
  - Official wording: "At least one resident of the dwelling unit, secondary suite, or recreational vehicle must hold a business licence for the home-based business."
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw 2021 No. 7336 (PDF, consolidated 2026-JUN-01), Business Licence Fees, Table IV](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7336.pdf)
  - Official wording: "All other businesses $165.00" … "Non-profit organizations with non-profit status $50.00"
  - Source: [Business Licences, Types of business licences](https://www.nanaimo.ca/doing-business/business-licences)
  - Official wording: "Home-Based - A business that operates within a dwelling unit or within an accessory building located on the same property as where the operator resides"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Limits:** Type 1 (multi-family unit, suite, mobile or modular home, RV, float home, or house on a lot under 370 m²): 42 m² or 50% of the unit, no client trips, no non-resident employees. Type 2 (lot 370 to under 2,020 m²): 100 m² or 50%, 8 return trips a day, 1 employee. Type 3 (2,020 m²+): 200 m² or 50%, 12 trips, 2 employees. Trips only 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Parking: none for Type 1; 1 space for Type 2 or 3.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 4500 (PDF, consolidated 2026-MAR-23), s. 6.20.3, 6.20.6](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/4500.pdf)
  - Official wording: "42m2 or 50% of the" … "100m2 or 50% of the 200m2 or 50% of the" … "customer or 0 8 return trips 12 return trips" … "resident 0 1 2 employees permitted to work on-site" … "≥ 370m2 and Vehicle, Float Home, ≥ 2,020m2 < 2,020m2" … "or Single Residential Dwelling on a lot < 370m2" … "such trips shall be limited to between the hours of 7am and 9pm, seven days a week."
  - Source: [https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7453.pdf, Table 2, Home Based Business](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7453.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No requirement for Type 1 businesses" … "1 space per Type 2 or Type 3 business"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Businesses not allowed:** For all types: auto body repair; commercial sawmill; boarding kennel, animal training and commercial dog breeding; restaurant; retail sales of items not made by the business; storage, wrecking, dismantling, painting or plating of vehicles, boats, aircraft or machinery. Types 1 and 2 also: automotive repair and detailing, and carpentry or cabinet-making. Type 1 also: personal service use and pet daycare.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 4500 (PDF, consolidated 2026-MAR-23), s. 6.20.3, 6.20.5](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/4500.pdf)
  - Official wording: "The following uses are specifically prohibited as a home-based business for all home-" … "auto body repair;" … "commercial sawmill;" … "boarding kennel, animal training, and commercial dog breeding;" … "restaurant;" … "retail sales of items other than items manufactured by the home-based" … "Automotive repair of a" … "major or minor nature;" … "automotive detailing;" … "personal service use;" … "pet daycare;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw No. 4500, s. 6.20 (Home Based Business); Business Licence Bylaw 2021 No. 7318
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 4500 (PDF, consolidated 2026-MAR-23), s. 6.20](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/4500.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Zoning Bylaw No. 4500" … "6.20 HOME BASED BUSINESS"
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw 7318 (consolidated), s. 1](https://www.nanaimo.ca/docs/doing-business/business-licences/business-licence-bylaw-7318-cons.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Business Licence Bylaw 2021 No. 7318"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

In the City of Nanaimo a home-based business is permitted in any dwelling unit or secondary suite regardless of zoning, if it meets all of section 6.20 of [Zoning Bylaw 4500](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/4500.pdf). At least one resident of the home must hold the business licence. It may also be in a permanent accessory building when the principal use is a single residential dwelling, or in a recreational vehicle in the R11 zone. Tenants who expect customers at the home must include a signed owner declaration.

| | Type 1 | Type 2 | Type 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home | Multi-family unit, suite, mobile or modular home, RV, float home, or house on a lot under 370 m² | Lot 370 m² to under 2,020 m² | Lot 2,020 m² or more |
| Business floor area | 42 m² or 50% of the unit, whichever is less | 100 m² or 50% | 200 m² or 50% |
| Customer return trips a day | none | 8 | 12 |
| Non-resident employees | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Parking | none | 1 space | 1 space |

## Steps

1. Check your zone and lot size with Planning.
2. Get a City business licence (see the business licence answer).

## Good to know

- Customer trips are allowed only from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Banned for all types: auto body repair, commercial sawmill, boarding kennel, animal training and commercial dog breeding, restaurant, retail sales of items not made by the business, and storage, wrecking, dismantling, painting or plating of vehicles, boats, aircraft or machinery. Types 1 and 2 also ban automotive repair and detailing, and carpentry or cabinet-making; Type 1 also bans personal service use and pet daycare.
- All storage must be inside the dwelling or accessory building. No odour, noise, smoke, dust or vibration may cross lot lines. Vehicle repair must be wholly inside a permanent building.
- Several home businesses at one home share the combined limits.
- Exceeding the limits is a $200 bylaw notice ticket ($150 if paid early).

## What you'll need

- If you rent and customers will visit, a signed owner declaration

## Official forms and pages

- [Home-Based Business Regulations (Zoning Bylaw 4500, section 6.20) (PDF)](https://www.nanaimo.ca/docs/doing-business/business-licences/home-based-business-regulations.pdf)
- [Zoning Bylaw 4500 (PDF)](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/4500.pdf)
- [General Business Licence application](https://www.nanaimo.ca/doing-business/business-licences/getting-a-business-licence/new-business-licence-application)

## Related questions

- [Nanaimo business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/business-licence.md)
- [Nanaimo zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/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)
- [Lantzville](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lantzville/home-based-business.md)
- [Ladysmith](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/home-based-business.md)
- [Parksville](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/parksville/home-based-business.md)
- [Sechelt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/home-based-business.md)
- [Qualicum Beach](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/home-based-business.md)
- [Lake Cowichan](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/home-based-business.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw 4500, section 6.20 Home Based Business (PDF)](https://www.nanaimo.ca/docs/doing-business/business-licences/home-based-business-regulations.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 4500 (PDF, consolidated 2026-MAR-23)](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/4500.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Business Licences, City of Nanaimo](https://www.nanaimo.ca/doing-business/business-licences) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw 2021 No. 7336 (PDF, consolidated 2026-JUN-01)](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7336.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7453.pdf](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7453.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Business Licence Bylaw 7318 (consolidated)](https://www.nanaimo.ca/docs/doing-business/business-licences/business-licence-bylaw-7318-cons.pdf) (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 Nanaimo. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/home-based-business/_