Prince Rupert home-based business rules

Can I run a business from my home?

Prince Rupert, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

Short answer

Yes, in Prince Rupert if it fits the Zoning Bylaw's home occupation rules. A home office is allowed in any dwelling unit but may not serve customers on the lot. A home business is limited to certain types in a single family or two family dwelling, and needs a City business licence ($85 a year).

Key facts

Allowed	Yes. A home office is allowed in any dwelling unit. A home business is allowed with a single family or two family dwelling (R1 and RMH list a home occupation) and only certain types, such as artist or craftsperson studio, appliance repair, community care, home daycare, office, personal service or pet grooming.Consolidated Zoning Bylaw No. 3462 (PDF, consolidated June 24, 2024), s. 3.8.0, 3.8.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording A home office is permitted as an accessory use in any dwelling unit. A home business is permitted as an accessory use to a single family or two family dwelling. The following uses and no others are permitted as home businesses: (c) Home Occupation. (a) A home occupation or business office.
Business licence	Yes. The home business operator must get a City business licence. Fee: $85 (Home Occupation) per year.Consolidated Zoning Bylaw No. 3462 (PDF, consolidated June 24, 2024), s. 3.8.0(f); Trade and Licencing Bylaw No. 3532, 2024, Schedule B, code 4900; s. 3.10 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording The home business operator must obtain a Business License issued by the City of Prince Rupert. 4900 HOME OCCUPATION $85.00 No person shall carry on a business from a residence unless it meets all requirements of Home Occupations
Limits	Up to 25% or 65 m² of the dwelling's gross floor area; carried out entirely inside the dwelling or permitted accessory building; no more than one delivery a week and one customer vehicle on site at a time; only residents may work in it; one sign up to 0.2 m², no neon or internal lighting; no outdoor storage or display.Consolidated Zoning Bylaw No. 3462 (PDF, consolidated June 24, 2024), s. 3.8.0 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording No more than 25% or 65 m2 of the entire gross floor area of a dwelling unit may be used for any home A home occupation shall not require more than one delivery of goods or materials per week no more than one customer or client vehicle parked on site at one time. There may only be one sign with the maximum dimensions 0.2 m2 which may not include neon lighting or the storage or display of goods, materials, machinery, or equipment on or about the premises is prohibited. A home occupation shall be carried out only by the residents of the dwelling unit
Businesses not allowed	Orchestra or band training; restaurants; light industrial use; salvage or repair of automobiles; businesses needing large vehicles; storing more than one vehicle; retail or wholesale of goods (except goods produced by the home business); cannabis grow operations.Consolidated Zoning Bylaw No. 3462 (PDF, consolidated June 24, 2024), s. 3.8.0(j) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording The following uses are prohibited for all types of home occupations: Orchestra or band training; Restaurant; Cannabis grow operation.
Bylaw	Zoning Bylaw No. 3462, 2021 (s. 3.8 Home Occupations); Trade and Licencing Bylaw No. 3532, 2024 (s. 3.10)Consolidated Zoning Bylaw No. 3462 (PDF, consolidated June 24, 2024), s. 3.8.0; Trade and Licencing Bylaw No. 3532, 2024, s. 3.10 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording more than 1.2 metres in height in the front yard area. 3.8.0 Home Occupations There are two types of home occupations identified for the purpose of this Bylaw. They are permitted depending Adoption and Amendment Disclaimer Zoning Bylaw No. 3462 was adopted by Council on May 10, 2021 and is consolidated as of June 24, 2024. Subsequent amendment bylaws have been combined with the original bylaw for convenience only. This Truck Compounds. 3.10 Home Occupation No person shall carry on a business from a residence unless it meets all requirements of cityhall@princerupert.ca Trade and Licensing Bylaw No. 3532, 2024 SCHEDULE A - TRADE OR BUSINESS LICENCING REGULATION

How it works

Zoning Bylaw No. 3462 (s. 3.8) allows two kinds of home occupation.

Home office: allowed in any dwelling unit. It may not serve customers on the lot.
Home business: allowed with a single family or two family dwelling, and only certain types: artist or craftsperson studio, appliance repair, community care, home daycare, office, personal service or pet grooming. Artist and appliance repair exclude boat refurbishment or building, auto refurbishment, furniture making and cabinet making.

Home occupation is an accessory use in the R1 and RMH zones. The RM1 zone lists home office only.

Steps

Check your zone (see zoning-lookup) and that your business is a permitted type.
Complete the Business/Trade Licence Application and pay the $85 home occupation fee.
Return both to Customer Services at City Hall. A home business must get a City business licence. Whether a plain home office needs one is not separately stated, so ask.

Good to know

Size: up to 25% or 65 m² of the dwelling's gross floor area, carried out entirely inside the dwelling or a permitted accessory building. Storage must be inside the principal dwelling.
No more than one delivery a week and one customer vehicle on site at a time. Only residents may work in it; daycares may have an outdoor play area and one child-development specialist.
No outdoor storage or display. One sign up to 0.2 m², with no neon or internal lighting. The bylaw also says no visible signs of the occupation from outside, so ask Development Services what is allowed.
Not allowed: orchestra or band training; restaurants; light industrial use; salvage or repair of automobiles; businesses needing large vehicles; storing more than one vehicle; retail or wholesale of goods (except goods produced by the home business); cannabis grow operations.

What you'll need

Completed Business/Trade Licence Application

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Port Edward · Kitimat · Terrace · Masset · Port Clements · Daajing Giids

Home-based business rules in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

Consolidated Zoning Bylaw No. 3462 (PDF, consolidated June 24, 2024), City of Prince Rupert (read 2026-11-05)
Trade and Licencing Bylaw No. 3532, 2024 (PDF), City of Prince Rupert (read 2026-11-05)
Contact a City Department, City of Prince Rupert (read 2026-11-05)
Bylaw Ticketing, Fine Payment and Disputes, City of Prince Rupert (City Hall hours) (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.