New Westminster home-based business rules
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.
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.Zoning Bylaw No. 6680, 2001, Part 100 Introduction (PDF, as of June 8, 2026), s. 190.28(a); Zoning Bylaw No. 6680, 2001, Part 300 One and Two Unit Residential (PDF, as of June 8, 2026), s. 310.2; Complete Zoning Bylaw No. 6680, 2001 (PDF, as of June 8, 2026), s. 120.99, 410.6, 509.12 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingthe home based business shall clearly be an accessory use to the residential use; Uses accessory to any permitted principal uses; Home based business; 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 |
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| 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).Business Licences and Permits; Business Licence Fees 2026, Schedule B, Schedule B, Business Licence Fees 2026 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThis includes home-based businesses, commercial and industrial operations, and owners of apartment rental properties. 1–3 Persons Engaged in the Business $214.00 Business Licence Application (excluding Liquor Primary and Cannabis Retail) $59.00 |
| 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.Zoning Bylaw No. 6680, 2001, Part 100 Introduction (PDF, as of June 8, 2026), s. 190.28(e), (f), (h), (k); Business Licence Bylaw No. 8473, 2024 (PDF, consolidated November 3, 2025), s. 3.17, 3.21 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingshall 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 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 |
| 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.Zoning Bylaw No. 6680, 2001, Part 100 Introduction (PDF, as of June 8, 2026), s. 190.28(n); Business Licence Bylaw No. 8473, 2024 (PDF, consolidated November 3, 2025), s. 3.21(2) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingadult entertainment uses, adult motion picture studios, adult theatres, adult video stores or escort services, or automotive repair at the location of the home; include any on-site storage of construction materials, hazardous |
| Bylaw | Zoning Bylaw No. 6680, 2001 (s. 190.28); Business Licence Bylaw No. 8473, 2024 (ss. 3.14 to 3.21)Zoning Bylaw No. 6680, 2001, Part 100 Introduction (PDF, as of June 8, 2026), s. 190.28; Business Licence Bylaw No. 8473, 2024 (PDF, consolidated November 3, 2025), Part 3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingRequirements for Home Based Businesses Home Based Businesses Every person carrying on the business of operating a home based |
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 apply everywhere. Every business, including a home-based one, needs a valid City licence before it starts.
Steps
- Confirm your zoning with the Planning Division.
- Fill in the application form for your business type from the Business Licences and Permits page.
- 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
The same question in other places
Burnaby · Coquitlam · Port Coquitlam · Port Moody · Belcarra · Surrey
Home-based business rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Business Licences and Permits, City of New Westminster (read 2026-11-05)
- Business Licence Fees 2026 (PDF), Schedule B (read 2026-11-05)
- Zoning Bylaw No. 6680, 2001, Part 100 Introduction (PDF, as of June 8, 2026) (read 2026-11-05)
- Zoning Bylaw No. 6680, 2001, Part 300 One and Two Unit Residential (PDF, as of June 8, 2026) (read 2026-11-05)
- Complete Zoning Bylaw No. 6680, 2001 (PDF, as of June 8, 2026) (read 2026-11-05)
- Business Licence Bylaw No. 8473, 2024 (PDF, consolidated November 3, 2025) (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.