---
title: Port McNeill home-based business rules
question: "Can I run a business from my home in Port McNeill?"
place: Port McNeill, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/port-mcneill
category: Starting and running a business
owner: municipal
owner_body: Town of Port McNeill
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-mcneill/home-based-business/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-mcneill/home-based-business.json"
---

# Port McNeill home-based business rules

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

**Short answer:** Yes. The Town of Port McNeill allows a home-based business in any zone, subject to conditions in both the Business Licence Bylaw and the Zoning Bylaw. You need a Town business licence ($80 a year for 0 to 3 employees) and a Home-Based Business Licence Addendum.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Town of Port McNeill, https://portmcneill.ca)  
**Cost:** $80 a year (0 to 3 employees, including home-based); half if started after July 31.  
**How long:** Not stated.  
**Where:**
- In person: Town Hall, 1775 Furney Place, Port McNeill, BC (mail: Box 728, Port McNeill, BC V0N 2R0) (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed statutory holidays))
- Phone: Town Office, 250-956-3111
- Email: Town Office reception, reception@portmcneill.ca

## Key facts

- **Allowed:** Yes. A home-based business may be carried on in any zone, subject to conditions in both the Business Licence Bylaw and the Zoning Bylaw.
  - Source: [Business Licensing Bylaw No. 699, 2020, Part 8.1](https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/No.6992020BusinessLicenceBylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "A home-based business may be carried on in any zone subject to the following provisions:"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 705, 2021 (PDF, Town's posted final copy), s. 5.3.1 Home occupations](https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2221_49324_Zoning-Bylaw_final072122.pdf)
  - Official wording: "A home occupation may be carried on in any zone subject to the following provisions:"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Business licence:** Yes. A business licence is required, with a Home-Based Business Licence Addendum. Fee: $80 a year (employing 0 to 3 persons, including home-based); half if started after July 31.
  - Source: [Business Licensing Bylaw No. 699, 2020, Schedule A](https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/No.6992020BusinessLicenceBylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Employing from 0-3 persons (Including Home-Based) $80" … "Must complete Home-Based Business Licence Addendum"
  - Source: [Business Licence Form, Home Based Business addendum](https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Business-License-Form.pdf)
  - Official wording: "To be completed in addition to Application for Business License"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Limits:** Run by residents with at most one non-resident employee; wholly inside the home; no outdoor storage; no nuisance or excessive customer or service traffic; ample off-street parking. Floor area differs: licence bylaw 20%, zoning 30% up to 83 m². Signs: zoning allows 0.19 m² non-illuminated (licence bylaw's 186 m² looks like an error). (Sources differ: The two bylaws differ on floor area (20% vs 30% up to 83 m²). Signs: the Zoning Bylaw allows 0.19 m² of non-illuminated outdoor advertising; the Business Licence Bylaw says 186 m² (2 sq. ft.), an apparent error. Follow the stricter limit and ask the Town. Business Licence Bylaw No. 699 is from 2020; the zoning copy is the 2022 posted version.)
  - Source: [Business Licensing Bylaw No. 699, 2020, Part 8.1](https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/No.6992020BusinessLicenceBylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "shall not employ more than one person that does not reside on the premise" … "The business portion shall not exceed twenty percent (20%) of the floor area." … "There is ample off-street parking provided for all personal and business vehicles and business patrons"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 705, 2021 (PDF, Town's posted final copy), s. 5.3.1 Home occupations](https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2221_49324_Zoning-Bylaw_final072122.pdf)
  - Official wording: "no more than one person that is not a resident thereon shall be employed in it." … "it shall be carried on wholly within a building." … "The maximum floor area permitted of a home occupation within a building is 30% to a" … "maximum of 83 m2." … "no material or objects produced, repaired, treated, sold or used in the occupation shall be" … "kept or stored out of doors." … "the total display area of non-illuminated outdoor advertising media shall not exceed 0.19 m2"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Businesses not allowed:** None set. Port McNeill's bylaws list no prohibited types of home business beyond their conditions.
- **Bylaw:** Business Licensing Bylaw No. 699, 2020 (Part 8); Zoning Bylaw No. 705, 2021 (s. 5.3 Home Occupations).
  - Source: [Business Licensing Bylaw No. 699, 2020, Title](https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/No.6992020BusinessLicenceBylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "BUSINESS LICENSING BYLAW NO. 699, 2020"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 705, 2021 (PDF, Town's posted final copy), s. 5.3 Home occupations](https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2221_49324_Zoning-Bylaw_final072122.pdf)
  - Official wording: "m in height shall be erected. 5.3 HOME OCCUPATIONS 5.3.1 A home occupation may be carried on in any zone subject to the following provisions:" … "ZONING BYLAW Bylaw No.705, 2021" … "Bylaw No. 705, 2021"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The Town of Port McNeill allows a home-based business in any zone, under [Business Licensing Bylaw No. 699, 2020](https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/No.6992020BusinessLicenceBylaw.pdf) (Part 8) and the [Zoning Bylaw No. 705, 2021](https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2221_49324_Zoning-Bylaw_final072122.pdf) (section 5.3, home occupations). You need a business licence and a Home-Based Business Licence Addendum. In a rented home, the owner or manager must authorize the tenant in writing.

## Steps

1. Check the limits below against your plans.
2. Complete the [Business Licence Form](https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Business-License-Form.pdf) with the Home-Based Business addendum.
3. Return it to the Town office at 1775 Furney Place, or mail it to Box 728.

## Good to know

- Limits: run by residents with at most one non-resident employee; wholly inside the home; no outdoor storage; no nuisance or excessive customer or service traffic; ample off-street parking.
- The two bylaws differ on floor area: the licence bylaw says 20%, the zoning bylaw says 30% up to 83 m². Follow the stricter limit and confirm with the Town.
- Signs: zoning allows 0.19 m² of non-illuminated advertising. The licence bylaw's figure of 186 m² looks like an error; ask the Town.
- The bylaws list no prohibited types of home business beyond these conditions.

## Official forms and pages

- [Business Licence Form (PDF), including Home Based Business addendum](https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Business-License-Form.pdf)
- [Business Licensing Bylaw No. 699, 2020 (PDF)](https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/No.6992020BusinessLicenceBylaw.pdf)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 705, 2021 (PDF, Town's posted final copy)](https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2221_49324_Zoning-Bylaw_final072122.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Port McNeill business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-mcneill/business-licence.md)
- [Port McNeill short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-mcneill/short-term-rental.md)
- [Port McNeill zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-mcneill/zoning-lookup.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Home-based business rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/home-based-business.md)
- [Alert Bay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/alert-bay/home-based-business.md)
- [Port Hardy](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-hardy/home-based-business.md)
- [Port Alice](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alice/home-based-business.md)
- [Tahsis](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tahsis/home-based-business.md)
- [Sayward](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sayward/home-based-business.md)
- [Gold River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gold-river/home-based-business.md)

## Sources

- [Business Licensing Bylaw No. 699, 2020 (PDF), Town of Port McNeill](https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/No.6992020BusinessLicenceBylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 705, 2021 (PDF, Town's posted final copy), Town of Port McNeill](https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2221_49324_Zoning-Bylaw_final072122.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Business Licence Form (PDF), Town of Port McNeill](https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Business-License-Form.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 4 of 5 facts was matched to the official text; 1 is recorded as not set. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Town of Port McNeill. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-mcneill/home-based-business/_