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

# North Vancouver home-based business rules

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

**Short answer:** Yes. In the City of North Vancouver a home-based business needs a business licence ($127.02 a year, plus a $52.07 application fee for new accounts) and must follow the Zoning Bylaw's home occupation limits for your zone. A home office with no staff on site or sales also files a compliance form.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of North Vancouver, https://www.cnv.org)  
**Cost:** $127.02 a year for a home-based business, plus a $52.07 non-refundable application fee for new accounts.  
**Where:**
- Email: Submit application, gateway@cnv.org
- Phone: Business Licences, 604-983-7356
- Email: Business Licences, licence@cnv.org

## Key facts

- **Allowed:** Yes. An accessory home occupation is allowed in the one-unit and two-unit residential zones (RS-1, RS-2, RT-1, RT-2), in the RG, RM-1 and RH-1 zones, and in the Ground Oriented zone. A home office (standard office equipment only) is also allowed.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw, 1995, No. 6700 (PDF, consolidated March 2, 2026), s. 507(6), s. 573, ss. 501(1)(d),(f), 502(1)(d),(f)](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/6700-1C.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Accessory Home Occupation Use, subject to Sections 507(6), (7)" … "Accessory Home Office Use;" … "(d) Accessory Home Occupation Use, subject to Section 507(6), (7) and"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw, 1995, No. 6700 (PDF, consolidated March 2, 2026), s. 507(6), s. 573, s. 573(3),(4) (Ground Oriented zone)](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/6700-1C.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Permitted uses include" … "residential, supportive community uses and home-based businesses." … "A Home Occupation Use is permitted as Accessory to a Dwelling Unit"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Business licence:** Yes. Home-based businesses need a City business licence: annual fee $127.02, plus a $52.07 non-refundable application fee for new accounts. A qualifying home office (no staff on site, no sales, standard office equipment only) also files an Accessory Home Office Use Confirmation of Compliance form.
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw, 2024, No. 9000 (PDF, consolidated December 8, 2025), Schedule F, Schedule F, Table IX and Table X](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/9000-C.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Home based businesses $ 127.02" … "Non-refundable application fee (for new licences for"
  - Source: [Business Licences, Apply for a Business Licence](https://www.cnv.org/Business-Development/Business-Licences)
  - Official wording: "home-based" … "new business accounts that are completing an application are subject to a $52.07 Application Fee" … "no staff on site, no retail or sales, and only using standard office equipment"
  - Source: [Apply, Renew & Pay Business Licence, Business Type](https://www.cnv.org/Business-Development/Business-Licences/Applying-for-a-Business-Licence)
  - Official wording: "Home Office applicants must complete both the Business Licence Application form and the Accessory Home Office Use Confirmation of Compliance form."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Limits:** RS/RT zones: inside the dwelling or an accessory building; at most 20% of floor area and 46.45 m²; two people working, one a resident; no sale of goods on site; nameplate under 0.1 m² only; no noise, odour or vibration outside. Ground Oriented zone: fully enclosed, one per dwelling unit, two people working, no outdoor display or storage, no selling goods on the lot.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw, 1995, No. 6700 (PDF, consolidated March 2, 2026), s. 507(6), s. 573](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/6700-1C.pdf)
  - Official wording: "shall be completely Enclosed within the residential Dwelling Unit or" … "together shall not occupy more than 20% of the Gross Floor Area of" … "shall not exceed 46.45 square metres (500 square feet)" … "shall be limited to a maximum of two persons working in the" … "shall not involve the sale of goods on the Premises;" … "except for one name-plate of less than 0.1 square metre (1 square" … "ii. is limited to one Home Occupation Use per Dwelling Unit;" … "ii. include outdoor services, display or storage;" … "iii. sell, lease or rent physical goods directly on the Lot;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Businesses not allowed:** Sale, repair, manufacture or handling of weapons or explosives; automobile servicing and repair; escort services. In apartment buildings also medical or dental offices, hairdressers, private schools, commercial food preparation and music or dance studios. Ground Oriented zone: nothing that sells goods directly on the lot or uses outdoor storage.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw, 1995, No. 6700 (PDF, consolidated March 2, 2026), s. 507(6), s. 573, s. 507(6)(a),(j); definition](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/6700-1C.pdf)
  - Official wording: "shall not involve the sale at retail or wholesale or commercial repair," … "excludes" … "automobile servicing and repair, Escort Service Use" … "exclude medical or dental offices," … "hairdressers, private schools, commercial food preparation, music or"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw, 1995, No. 6700 (PDF, consolidated March 2, 2026), s. 507(6), s. 573, s. 573(4)(b) (Ground Oriented zone)](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/6700-1C.pdf)
  - Official wording: "include outdoor services, display or storage;" … "sell, lease or rent physical goods directly on the Lot;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw, 1995, No. 6700 (s. 507(6); Ground Oriented zone s. 573(4)); Business Licence Bylaw, 2018, No. 8640
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw, 1995, No. 6700 (PDF, consolidated March 2, 2026), s. 507(6), s. 573](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/6700-1C.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Accessory Home Occupation Use" … "CONSOLIDATED FOR CONVENIENCE – MARCH 2, 2026"
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw, 2018, No. 8640, title page](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/8640-C.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Business Licence Bylaw, 2018, No. 8640"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

A home occupation is allowed in the City of North Vancouver's [Zoning Bylaw](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/6700-1C.pdf) in RS-1, RS-2, RT-1, RT-2, RG, RM-1 and RH-1 zones and in the Ground Oriented zone. A home office (standard office equipment only, no staff on site, no sales) is also allowed. Check your zone in CityMap first.

## Steps

1. Decide whether you are a home office or a home occupation.
2. Complete the Business Licence Application. A qualifying home office also completes the Accessory Home Office Use Confirmation of Compliance form.
3. Email it to gateway@cnv.org and pay the invoice on CityServe once approved.

## Good to know

- **RS and RT zones:** inside the dwelling or an accessory building; at most 20% of the floor area and 46.45 m²; two people working, one a resident; no sale of goods on site; a nameplate under 0.1 m² only; no noise, odour or vibration outside.
- **Ground Oriented zone:** fully enclosed; one home occupation per dwelling unit; two people working, one a resident; no outdoor display or storage; no selling goods directly on the lot. Parking is not required except for child care (1 space).
- Not allowed: sale, repair or manufacture of weapons or explosives, automobile servicing and repair, and escort services. In apartment buildings also medical or dental offices, hairdressers, private schools, commercial food preparation and music or dance studios.
- Strata bylaws or your lease may be stricter.

## What you'll need

- Business Licence Application
- Accessory Home Office Use Confirmation of Compliance form (home office)

## Official forms and pages

- [Business Licence Application (fillable PDF)](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Business-Licences/Business-Licence-Application-Form-Fillable.pdf)
- [Accessory Home Office Use Confirmation of Compliance form](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Business-Licences/Business-Licence-Application-Form-Home-Office-fillable.pdf)

## Related questions

- [North Vancouver business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver/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)
- [District of North Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/home-based-business.md)
- [Belcarra](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/home-based-business.md)
- [Port Moody](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-moody/home-based-business.md)
- [West Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/home-based-business.md)
- [Burnaby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/home-based-business.md)
- [Richmond](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/richmond/home-based-business.md)

## Sources

- [Apply, Renew & Pay Business Licence, City of North Vancouver](https://www.cnv.org/Business-Development/Business-Licences/Applying-for-a-Business-Licence) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Business Licences, City of North Vancouver](https://www.cnv.org/Business-Development/Business-Licences) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw, 2024, No. 9000 (PDF, consolidated December 8, 2025), Schedule F](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/9000-C.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning Bylaw, 1995, No. 6700 (PDF, consolidated March 2, 2026), s. 507(6), s. 573](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/6700-1C.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Business Licence Bylaw, 2018, No. 8640 (PDF)](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/8640-C.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 North Vancouver. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver/home-based-business/_