North Saanich home-based business rules
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.
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.Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023), s. 203.1, 203.1.11; Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023), s. 502.1.1 (R-1) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingWhere 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] (ii) Home Occupation [See Section 203] |
|---|---|
| Business licence | Yes. Every business needs a licence. Home Based Business (including Bed and Breakfast) is $50 a year.Business Bylaw No. 1349, s. 4; Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1471 (PDF, consolidated October 2022), Business Licence Fees (BL 1515) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingEvery person owning or operating any business carried on within the Municipality shall hold a valid and subsisting business license Home Based Business including Bed and $50.00 |
| 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.Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023), s. 203.1.1, 203.1.3; Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023), s. 203.1.7, 203.1.8; Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023), s. 306 parking table · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingmust 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 The total display area of any outdoor advertising sign must not exceed 0.2 m2 (d) noise levels exceeding 45 decibels. Home Occupation 1 space per employee |
| 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).Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023), s. 203.1.4, 203.1.5, 203.1.6, 203.1.10 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNo 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. |
| Bylaw | Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255, s. 203; Business Bylaw No. 1349 (2013)Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023), s. 203; Business Bylaw No. 1349, s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingis 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 This Bylaw may be cited for all purposes as “District of North Saanich Business Bylaw No. 1349 (2013).” |
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 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
- Check that your zone allows home occupation and that you meet the section 203 conditions below.
- Register the business with BC Registry Services, then apply for a Home Based Business licence (see the business-licence answer).
- 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
The same question in other places
Sidney · Central Saanich · Highlands · Saanich · Langford · View Royal
Home-based business rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Zoning and Development Bylaw No. 1255 (PDF, consolidated February 2023) (read 2026-11-05)
- Business Licences, District of North Saanich (read 2026-11-05)
- Business Bylaw No. 1349 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1471 (PDF, consolidated October 2022) (read 2026-11-05)
- 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. How answers are checked.