District of North Vancouver home-based business rules
Can I run a business from my home in the District of North Vancouver?
Short answer
In the District of North Vancouver (not the City), you can run a home occupation in the single- family zones, including R1 and R2, if you live there and meet the Zoning Bylaw limits. It may use at most 20% of the floor area or 46 m². You also need a business licence.
Key facts
| Allowed | Yes. A home occupation is an accessory use in the single-family (RS) zones and in the R1 and R2 zones, if run by a resident of the dwelling unit and meeting section 405.Zoning Bylaw 3210, s. 501.1(b)(i); Section 525 to Zoning Bylaw 3210, R1 and R2 zones, Subsection 525-1.50 and 3.10(9) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingAccessory Uses: (i) home occupations; Home Occupation means a use that that is located within a Dwelling Unit and subordinate to a Home Occupations: Refer to Section 405. |
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| Business licence | Yes, a business licence is required. The fee follows the business category in Fees and Charges Bylaw 6481, Schedule E, with a non-refundable $20 processing fee for a business run from a dwelling unit. A business not listed (one or two people) is $193.90; Schedule C lists a $0 fee for some office-type operators, so confirm with Business Licences.Business Licence Bylaw 4567, s. 406(1); Fees and Charges Bylaw 6481, Schedule E, Licence Fees E · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordinga non-refundable processing fee of $20.00 for a non-resident business or a resident business operated from a dwelling unit Every person carrying on within the Municipality any business, trade, employment, occupation, or One or two persons engaged in the business $193.90 The fee for operators in this |
| Limits | Home occupation may use at most 20% of the floor area or 46 m², whichever is less. No more than two people on the premises, one a resident. All materials stored inside. Nothing detectable outside (noise, odour). Only a 1 sq ft name-plate sign. Only goods made on the premises sold. Max two home occupations.Zoning Bylaw 3210, s. 405(1) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingshall not occupy more than 20% of the total gross floor area or 46 square metres whichever is lesser. a total of not more than two persons shall be engaged in the occupation with the exception of a single name-plate not exceeding one square foot No commodity shall be sold on the premises except that which is made on No more than two home occupations shall be conducted from the |
| Businesses not allowed | Gun shops and social escort services are prohibited as home occupations. Pet care establishments and veterinaries are prohibited; pet services allowed with no more than 3 dogs on the property at any time.Zoning Bylaw 3210, s. 405(2), (3), (4) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingGun shops are prohibited as home occupations. Social escort services are prohibited as home occupations. Pet care establishments and veterinaries are prohibited as home occupations. |
| Bylaw | Zoning Bylaw 3210, 1965, s. 405 (Home Occupations); Business Licence Bylaw 4567, 1974Zoning Bylaw 3210, s. 405; Business Licence Bylaw 4567, cover · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wording(a) Accessory Uses are permitted and are limited to: (i) Home Occupations in accordance with the regulations in Section 405 of the Zoning Bylaw, 1965 ZONING BYLAW 1965 BYLAW 3210 Effective Date - 1965 THE DISTRICT OF NORTH VANCOUVER BUSINESS LICENCE BYLAW BYLAW 4567 Effective Date - October 15, 1974 326 Dining Room Repealed. (5335) 326A Dwelling Unit "Dwelling Unit" has the meaning given to it in Part 2 of Zoning Bylaw No. 3210, 1965. (8727) |
How it works
A home occupation is an accessory use in the single-family (RS) zones and in the R1 and R2 zones, if it is run by a resident of the dwelling unit and meets section 405 of Zoning Bylaw 3210. Other zones were not read. This is the District of North Vancouver, not the City of North Vancouver.
Limits in s. 405:
- At most 20% of the floor area or 46 m², whichever is less.
- No more than two people on the premises, one of them a resident.
- All materials stored inside, and nothing detectable outside (noise, odour).
- Only a 1 sq ft name-plate sign.
- Only goods made on the premises may be sold.
- Maximum two home occupations (only one where the premises has a bed and breakfast).
Steps
- Check your zone and the s. 405 limits (see zoning-lookup).
- Get a business licence (see business-licence). The fee follows the business category in Fees and Charges Bylaw 6481, Schedule E, with a non-refundable $20 processing fee for a business run from a dwelling unit.
- Confirm the fee with Business Licences (604-990-2480, businesslicences@dnv.org). Schedule C lists a $0 fee for some office-type operators.
Good to know
- Gun shops and social escort services are prohibited as home occupations. Pet care establishments and veterinaries are prohibited; pet services are allowed with no more than 3 dogs on the property at any time.
- Short-term rental is not a home occupation (see short-term-rental).
- No customer-visit or parking limit was found in s. 405. Ask Planning (604-990-2387).
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
North Vancouver · Belcarra · West Vancouver · Port Moody · Burnaby · Richmond
Home-based business rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- https://docs.dnv.org/documents/fence-height-regulations.pdf (read 2026-11-06)
- https://docs.dnv.org/documents/zoning-guide-single-family-residential-edgemont-zone.pdf (read 2026-11-06)
- Zoning Bylaw 3210 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
- Section 525 to Zoning Bylaw 3210, R1 and R2 zones (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
- Business Licence Bylaw 4567 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
- Fees and Charges Bylaw 6481 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
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.