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

# New Westminster home-based business rules

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

**Short answer:** Yes. In New Westminster you can run a home-based business as an accessory use to your home, if you live there and hold a City business licence. Zoning Bylaw section 190.28 sets limits, such as 500 square feet of space and one non-resident worker. Confirm your zone with Planning.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of New Westminster, https://www.newwestcity.ca)  
**Cost:** A $59 non-refundable application fee, plus an annual fee by business type. An employee-based business with 1 to 3 persons is $214 (2026).  
**How long:** Not stated.  
**Where:**
- Email: Business Licensing, businesslicences@newwestcity.ca
- Phone: Business Licensing, 604-527-4565
- In person: City Hall, 511 Royal Avenue, New Westminster, BC (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

## Key facts

- **Allowed:** Yes, as an accessory use to a residential use, run by a resident. It is a listed permitted use in RS-1 and in many other residential districts (for example 410.6) and some commercial districts (for example 509.12); s. 190.28 rules apply everywhere. Confirm your zone with Planning.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 6680, 2001, Part 100 Introduction (PDF, as of June 8, 2026), s. 190.28(a)](https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/100_Introduction___As_of_June_8_2026(1%29.pdf)
  - Official wording: "the home based business shall clearly be an accessory use to the residential use;"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 6680, 2001, Part 300 One and Two Unit Residential (PDF, as of June 8, 2026), s. 310.2](https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/300_One_and_Two_Unit_Residential___As_of_June_8_2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Uses accessory to any permitted principal uses;" … "Home based business;"
  - Source: [Complete Zoning Bylaw No. 6680, 2001 (PDF, as of June 8, 2026), s. 120.99, 410.6, 509.12](https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/Complete_Zoning_Bylaw_No._6680_2001___As_of_June_8_2026(1%29.pdf)
  - Official wording: "HOME BASED BUSINESS means an accessory use to an authorised residential use in which one or more residents carry on a business" … "410.6 Home based businesses" … "509.12 Home based businesses"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Business licence:** Yes. Every business, including home-based ones, needs a valid licence before starting. A $59 non-refundable application fee applies. Annual fee by type; an employee-based business with 1 to 3 persons is $214 (2026).
  - Source: [Business Licences and Permits](https://www.newwestcity.ca/business_licences.php)
  - Official wording: "This includes home-based businesses, commercial and industrial operations, and owners of apartment rental properties."
  - Source: [Business Licence Fees 2026, Schedule B, Schedule B, Business Licence Fees 2026](https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/CNW_2026_BL_Fees_web.pdf)
  - Official wording: "1–3 Persons Engaged in the Business $214.00" … "Business Licence Application (excluding Liquor Primary and Cannabis Retail)" … "$59.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Limits:** No more than 500 ft² (46.45 m²) used. One non-resident worker at most. No outdoor storage or display. Customers may not regularly come in to buy goods (some zones excepted). One off-street and one on-street parking space. Not open to the public 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. One unlit sign up to 0.2 m².
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 6680, 2001, Part 100 Introduction (PDF, as of June 8, 2026), s. 190.28(e), (f), (h), (k)](https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/100_Introduction___As_of_June_8_2026(1%29.pdf)
  - Official wording: "shall not exceed 500 square feet (46.45 square metres) in total;" … "no home based business shall have unenclosed or exterior storage or display of" … "not more than one off-Street and one on-street parking space may be occupied" … "no home based business shall involve the sale of goods or products where customers"
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 8473, 2024 (PDF, consolidated November 3, 2025), s. 3.17, 3.21](https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/Consolidated_Bylaw_8473__2024_Business_Licence__2025_11_03_consolidation_.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No more than one non-resident individual may be engaged in one or more" … "be open to the public for business between the hours of 10:00 p.m." … "one non-illuminated identification sign not to exceed 2.2 square feet"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Businesses not allowed:** Adult entertainment uses, adult theatres, adult video stores, escort services and automotive repair at the home. Also no on-site storage of construction materials, hazardous chemicals or explosives.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 6680, 2001, Part 100 Introduction (PDF, as of June 8, 2026), s. 190.28(n)](https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/100_Introduction___As_of_June_8_2026(1%29.pdf)
  - Official wording: "adult entertainment uses, adult motion picture studios, adult theatres, adult" … "video stores or escort services, or" … "automotive repair at the location of the home;"
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 8473, 2024 (PDF, consolidated November 3, 2025), s. 3.21(2)](https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/Consolidated_Bylaw_8473__2024_Business_Licence__2025_11_03_consolidation_.pdf)
  - Official wording: "include any on-site storage of construction materials, hazardous"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw No. 6680, 2001 (s. 190.28); Business Licence Bylaw No. 8473, 2024 (ss. 3.14 to 3.21)
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 6680, 2001, Part 100 Introduction (PDF, as of June 8, 2026), s. 190.28](https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/100_Introduction___As_of_June_8_2026(1%29.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Requirements for Home Based Businesses"
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 8473, 2024 (PDF, consolidated November 3, 2025), Part 3](https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/Consolidated_Bylaw_8473__2024_Business_Licence__2025_11_03_consolidation_.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Home Based Businesses" … "Every person carrying on the business of operating a home based"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

New Westminster allows a home-based business as an accessory use to a residential use, run by a resident. It is a listed permitted use in RS-1 and many other residential and some commercial districts, and the rules in section 190.28 of the [Zoning Bylaw](https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/100_Introduction___As_of_June_8_2026(1).pdf) apply everywhere. Every business, including a home-based one, needs a valid City licence before it starts.

## Steps

1. Confirm your zoning with the Planning Division.
2. Fill in the application form for your business type from the Business Licences and Permits page.
3. Email it to businesslicences@newwestcity.ca or bring it to City Hall, and pay the fees.

## Good to know

- Limits: no more than 500 square feet (46.45 square metres) used; one non-resident worker at most; no outdoor storage or display; one off-street and one on-street parking space; not open to the public from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.; one unlit sign up to 0.2 square metres.
- Customers may not regularly come in to buy goods (some zones are excepted).
- Not allowed: adult entertainment uses, adult theatres, adult video stores, escort services, automotive repair, and on-site storage of construction materials, hazardous chemicals or explosives.
- No noise, vibration, smoke, dust, odours or similar disturbance.
- A bed and breakfast licence costs $214 a year.

## Official forms and pages

- [Business Licences and Permits page](https://www.newwestcity.ca/business_licences.php)

## Related questions

- [New Westminster business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/business-licence.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Home-based business rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/home-based-business.md)
- [Burnaby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/home-based-business.md)
- [Coquitlam](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coquitlam/home-based-business.md)
- [Port Coquitlam](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-coquitlam/home-based-business.md)
- [Port Moody](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-moody/home-based-business.md)
- [Belcarra](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/home-based-business.md)
- [Surrey](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/surrey/home-based-business.md)

## Sources

- [Business Licences and Permits, City of New Westminster](https://www.newwestcity.ca/business_licences.php) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Business Licence Fees 2026 (PDF), Schedule B](https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/CNW_2026_BL_Fees_web.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 6680, 2001, Part 100 Introduction (PDF, as of June 8, 2026)](https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/100_Introduction___As_of_June_8_2026(1%29.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 6680, 2001, Part 300 One and Two Unit Residential (PDF, as of June 8, 2026)](https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/300_One_and_Two_Unit_Residential___As_of_June_8_2026.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Complete Zoning Bylaw No. 6680, 2001 (PDF, as of June 8, 2026)](https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/Complete_Zoning_Bylaw_No._6680_2001___As_of_June_8_2026(1%29.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Business Licence Bylaw No. 8473, 2024 (PDF, consolidated November 3, 2025)](https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/Consolidated_Bylaw_8473__2024_Business_Licence__2025_11_03_consolidation_.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 New Westminster. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/home-based-business/_