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

# North Saanich home-based business rules

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

**Short answer:** Yes, in North Saanich where your zone lists Home Occupation and you meet every Zoning Bylaw section 203 condition (for example, a resident runs it, limited floor area, no outdoor storage). You also need a District business licence; Home Based Business is $50 a year.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of North Saanich, https://www.northsaanich.ca)  
**Cost:** $50 a year for a Home Based Business (including Bed and Breakfast) licence. Half price if the business starts after July 31.  
**How long:** Licences run January 1 to December 31.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Community Planning, 250-655-5454
- Email: Community Planning, planning@northsaanich.ca
- Phone: Municipal Hall, 250-656-0781

## Key facts

- **Allowed:** Yes, as a secondary use in zones that list 'Home Occupation': RA-1 to RA-6, R-1, R-2, R-3, RS-1, RM-1, RM-2 and CD-1 to CD-6, if every s. 203 condition is met. In CD-7 only office use is allowed.
  - Source: [Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023), s. 203.1, 203.1.11](https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1255-District-of-North-Saanich-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1255-Consolidated-2023.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Where a zone permits home occupation use, all the following conditions must be" … "In the CD-7 zone, only office use is permitted as a home occupation." … "Home Occupation – Office only (See Section 203)" … "(i) Home Occupation [See Section 203]"
  - Source: [Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023), s. 502.1.1 (R-1)](https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1255-District-of-North-Saanich-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1255-Consolidated-2023.pdf)
  - Official wording: "(ii) Home Occupation [See Section 203]"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Business licence:** Yes. Every business needs a licence. Home Based Business (including Bed and Breakfast) is $50 a year.
  - Source: [Business Bylaw No. 1349, s. 4](https://www.northsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/1349-Business-License-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Every person owning or operating any business carried on within the Municipality" … "shall hold a valid and subsisting business license"
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1471 (PDF, consolidated October 2022), Business Licence Fees (BL 1515)](https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1471-Fees-and-Charges-Bylaw-2018.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Home Based Business including Bed and $50.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Limits:** Run by a resident of the home, with at most one full-time or two part-time employees; indoors, except growing produce, grass, flowers or shrubs; no outdoor storage. Floor area: the lesser of 20% of the house or 46 m², and 46 m² total for the lot. Sign up to 0.2 m². Noise 45 dB or less across lot lines. 1 parking space per employee. No customer limit is stated.
  - Source: [Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023), s. 203.1.1, 203.1.3](https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1255-District-of-North-Saanich-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1255-Consolidated-2023.pdf)
  - Official wording: "must not involve the employment of more than one full-time or two part-time" … "(a) Principal Building – lesser of 20% or 46 m2 (494.96 ft2)," … "(c) Overall Total for the lot – 46 m2 (494.96 ft2)." … "The use must be conducted entirely within one or more buildings or" … "structures, except for growing produce, grass, flowers, ornamental shrubs or"
  - Source: [Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023), s. 203.1.7, 203.1.8](https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1255-District-of-North-Saanich-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1255-Consolidated-2023.pdf)
  - Official wording: "The total display area of any outdoor advertising sign must not exceed 0.2 m2" … "(d) noise levels exceeding 45 decibels."
  - Source: [Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023), s. 306 parking table](https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1255-District-of-North-Saanich-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1255-Consolidated-2023.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Home Occupation 1 space per employee"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Businesses not allowed:** No distillery; no outdoor, unenclosed or storage-facility use; no servicing or repair of automobiles, boats or other machinery; display or sale of goods as the main use (unless produced on the lot or accessory to the business).
  - Source: [Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023), s. 203.1.4, 203.1.5, 203.1.6, 203.1.10](https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1255-District-of-North-Saanich-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1255-Consolidated-2023.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No outdoor storage, unenclosed storage or storage facility use is permitted." … "No automobile, boat, or other machinery servicing or repair is permitted." … "No Distillery use is permitted."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255, s. 203; Business Bylaw No. 1349 (2013)
  - Source: [Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023), s. 203](https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1255-District-of-North-Saanich-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1255-Consolidated-2023.pdf)
  - Official wording: "is located. 203. HOME OCCUPATION 203.1. Where a zone permits home occupation use, all the following conditions must be" … "DISTRICT OF NORTH SAANICH BYLAW N O. 1255 A BYLAW TO REGULATE THE ZONING AND DEVELOPMENT"
  - Source: [Business Bylaw No. 1349, s. 1](https://www.northsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/1349-Business-License-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED.pdf)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw may be cited for all purposes as “District of North Saanich Business Bylaw" … "No. 1349 (2013).”"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

In the District of North Saanich, a home occupation is allowed as a secondary use in zones that list it: RA-1 to RA-6, R-1, R-2, R-3, RS-1, RM-1, RM-2 and CD-1 to CD-6, if every section 203 condition in [Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255](https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1255-District-of-North-Saanich-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1255-Consolidated-2023.pdf) is met. In CD-7 only office use is allowed. Check your zone on the District's online map (see the zoning-lookup answer).

## Steps

1. Check that your zone allows home occupation and that you meet the section 203 conditions below.
2. Register the business with BC Registry Services, then apply for a Home Based Business licence (see the business-licence answer).
3. Plan 1 parking space per employee.

## Good to know

- The business must be run by a resident of the home, with at most one full-time or two part-time employees.
- Work must be indoors, except growing produce, grass, flowers or shrubs. No outdoor storage.
- Floor area is the lesser of 20% of the house or 46 m², and 46 m² total for the lot. Accessory buildings may hold a combined 46 m².
- A sign may be up to 0.2 m². Noise must not exceed 45 dB across lot lines.
- Not allowed: a distillery, outdoor, unenclosed or storage-facility use, servicing or repair of automobiles, boats or other machinery, or display or sale of goods as the main use (unless the goods are produced on the lot or accessory to the business).
- No limit on customers is stated; ask Planning.
- An unlawful home occupation ticket is $130 ($100 if paid within 30 days) under Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1544, 2022 version; amounts may have changed.

## Official forms and pages

- [Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255, s. 203 (PDF)](https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1255-District-of-North-Saanich-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1255-Consolidated-2023.pdf)
- [Business Licences page](https://www.northsaanich.ca/local-government/applications-permits-licences/business-licences)

## Related questions

- [North Saanich business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/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)
- [Sidney](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sidney/home-based-business.md)
- [Central Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/home-based-business.md)
- [Highlands](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/home-based-business.md)
- [Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/home-based-business.md)
- [Langford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/home-based-business.md)
- [View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/home-based-business.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023)](https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1255-District-of-North-Saanich-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1255-Consolidated-2023.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Business Licences, District of North Saanich](https://www.northsaanich.ca/local-government/applications-permits-licences/business-licences) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Business Bylaw No. 1349 (PDF)](https://www.northsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/1349-Business-License-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1471 (PDF, consolidated October 2022)](https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1471-Fees-and-Charges-Bylaw-2018.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1544 (PDF)](https://www.northsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/Municipal-Ticket-Information-Bylaw-No.-1544.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 District of North Saanich. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/home-based-business/_