{"title":"Qualicum Beach home-based business rules","question":"Can I run a business from my home in Qualicum Beach?","slug":"home-based-business","place":{"path":"ca/bc/qualicum-beach","name":"Qualicum Beach","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"business","name":"Starting and running a business"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"Town of Qualicum Beach","url":"https://www.qualicumbeach.com"},"short_answer":"Yes. In Qualicum Beach, a home occupation is permitted in the R1 and R2 zones and the rural A1 to A4 zones if a resident runs it, with at most one non-resident employee. You also need a Town business licence. The business licence fee schedule has no home-based category.","aliases":["home business qualicum beach","home occupation qualicum beach","work from home business licence qualicum beach","home based business bylaw qualicum beach"],"cost":"A Town business licence is required. The fee schedule has no home-based category; the catch-all for businesses not described is $110 a year.","how_long":"Not stated.","where":[{"type":"online","label":"Business Licences, Town of Qualicum Beach","value":"https://qualicumbeach.com/business-licences"},{"type":"in_person","label":"Town Hall","value":"#201-660 Primrose Street, Qualicum Beach, BC V9K 1S7","note":"Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m."},{"type":"phone","label":"Town Hall","value":"250-752-6921"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"General Business Licence Application (PDF)","url":"https://qualicumbeach.com/preview/?file_path=Application%20Forms/Business%20Licence%20Applications/General%20Business%20Licence%20%28commercial%2C%20industrial%2C%20home%20based%2C%20B%26B%2C%20daycare%29/Business%20License%20Application%20%28General%29%2Epdf"},{"title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 900, 2024 (PDF)","url":"https://qualicumbeach.com/preview/?file_path=Bylaws/Zoning%20Bylaw%2C%20Bylaw%20No.%20900%2C%202024/Zoning%20Bylaw%2C%20Bylaw%20No.%20900%2C%202024%20(Combined%20Version).pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"business-licence","title":"Qualicum Beach business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/business-licence/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Qualicum Beach zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/zoning-lookup/"},{"slug":"short-term-rental","title":"Qualicum Beach short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/short-term-rental/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/parksville","name":"Parksville","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/parksville/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/lantzville","name":"Lantzville","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lantzville/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/port-alberni","name":"Port Alberni","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/nanaimo","name":"Nanaimo","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/sechelt","name":"Sechelt","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/comox","name":"Comox","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/home-based-business/"}],"topic":{"title":"Home-based business rules in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/home-based-business/"},"facts":{"allowed":{"label":"Allowed","value":"Yes. 'Home Occupation' is a permitted use in the Residential 1 and 2 zones and the Rural zones (A1 to A4), conducted by a resident of the dwelling. Home businesses are allowed in strata units if no clients come into the complex's non-public areas.","short":"Yes, in Residential 1, 2 and Rural zones","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://qualicumbeach.com/preview/?file_path=Bylaws/Zoning%20Bylaw%2C%20Bylaw%20No.%20900%2C%202024/Zoning%20Bylaw%2C%20Bylaw%20No.%20900%2C%202024%20(Combined%20Version).pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 900, 2024 (Combined Version) (PDF), Town of Qualicum Beach","section":"s. 3.4.111 (R1), s. 3.4.11 (A1), s. 3.3 item 21","quotes":["e) Home Occupation","c) Home Occupation Use","the Home Occupation use is conducted by a resident of the dwelling unit in","the use of a dwelling unit for Home Occupation use is accessory to its"]},{"url":"https://qualicumbeach.com/business-licences","title":"Business Licences, Town of Qualicum Beach","section":"Home Based Businesses","quotes":["Home based businesses are allowed in strata units"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"licence":{"label":"Business licence","value":"Yes, a Town business licence is required. The fee schedule has no home-based category; the catch-all for businesses not described is $110 a year (professionals $110 per person; contractors $110).","short":"Yes: $110 a year (catch-all fee)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://qualicumbeach.com/business-licences","title":"Business Licences, Town of Qualicum Beach","section":"Home Based Businesses","quotes":["Home based businesses require a business licence to operate in Qualicum Beach."]},{"url":"https://qualicumbeach.com/preview/?file_path=Application%20Forms/Business%20Licence%20Applications/General%20Business%20Licence%20%28commercial%2C%20industrial%2C%20home%20based%2C%20B%26B%2C%20daycare%29/Business%20License%20Application%20%28General%29%2Epdf","title":"General Business Licence Application (PDF), Town of Qualicum Beach","section":"Schedule A","quotes":["BUSINESSES NOT DESCRIBED IN THIS SCHEDULE (per classification)","$110.00","Unless otherwise stated, the fee specified is for the calendar year."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"limits":{"label":"Limits","value":"Run by a resident, with at most one non-resident employee; inside the dwelling only, no outdoor storage; at most 20% of the dwelling or 50 m², whichever is less; at most four clients or patrons on the property at once, with only one customer served at a time; no sale of goods not produced on the parcel; no nuisance; one non-illuminated sign under the Sign Bylaw; at most two home occupations per dwelling. Parking follows Schedule 3B: none required except 1 per non-resident employee, 2 for sales of goods, 2 for customer or client service.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://qualicumbeach.com/preview/?file_path=Bylaws/Zoning%20Bylaw%2C%20Bylaw%20No.%20900%2C%202024/Zoning%20Bylaw%2C%20Bylaw%20No.%20900%2C%202024%20(Combined%20Version).pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 900, 2024 (Combined Version) (PDF), Town of Qualicum Beach","section":"s. 3.3 item 21; Schedule 3B Table 1","quotes":["a maximum of one non-resident may be employed in the home occupation","the maximum floor area of the dwelling unit used for Home Occupation use","is 20%; or 50.0m2 whichever is lesser;","shall not exceed four people provided that only one customer receives","there is no sale on the parcel of a commodity not produced on the parcel;","no more than one non-illuminated business identification sign is erected in","there is a maximum of two Home Occupation uses per dwelling unit","No parking is required except as follows:","1 per non-resident employee","2 for sales of commodities","2 for a customer, client or patron service"]},{"url":"https://qualicumbeach.com/business-licences","title":"Business Licences, Town of Qualicum Beach","section":"Home Based Businesses","quotes":["Two off-street parking spaces are provided."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"},"sources_differ":"The Town's business licence page and application form say two off-street parking spaces are required; Zoning s. 21(h) refers to Schedule 3B, which requires none unless there are employees, sales or client service. The bylaw is followed."},"not_allowed":{"label":"Businesses not allowed","value":"Car repair, boat repair, engine repair, restaurants, retail food sales and kennels. Also anything that creates a nuisance (smell, noise, fumes, vibration, glare) or uses materials producing flammable or explosive vapours.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://qualicumbeach.com/preview/?file_path=Bylaws/Zoning%20Bylaw%2C%20Bylaw%20No.%20900%2C%202024/Zoning%20Bylaw%2C%20Bylaw%20No.%20900%2C%202024%20(Combined%20Version).pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 900, 2024 (Combined Version) (PDF), Town of Qualicum Beach","section":"s. 3.3 item 21(i) and (j)","quotes":["the Home Occupation does not involve the use of the dwelling unit for car","repair, boat repair, engine repair, restaurant, retail food sales or kennels;","explosive vapours or gas under ordinary temperatures;"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Town of Qualicum Beach Zoning Bylaw No. 900, 2024 (s. 3.3 item 21); Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 506","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://qualicumbeach.com/preview/?file_path=Bylaws/Zoning%20Bylaw%2C%20Bylaw%20No.%20900%2C%202024/Zoning%20Bylaw%2C%20Bylaw%20No.%20900%2C%202024%20(Combined%20Version).pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 900, 2024 (Combined Version) (PDF), Town of Qualicum Beach","section":"s. 1 and s. 3.3 item 21","quotes":["Town of Qualicum Beach Zoning Bylaw No. 900,","21. Home Occupation"]},{"url":"https://qualicumbeach.com/preview/?file_path=Bylaws/Business%20Licensing%20and%20Regulation%20Bylaw%20No%2E%20506%2E07%20%28Consolidated%20to%20Bylaw%20No%2E%20506%2E09%2C%202003%29%2Epdf","title":"Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 506 (PDF), Town of Qualicum Beach","section":"title","quotes":["Bylaw Bylaw No. 506.07- No. 506.07 - Business Licencing Licencing and and Regulation Regulation Bylaw Bylaw"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":5,"stated":5,"matched":5,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nUnder Qualicum Beach's [Zoning Bylaw No. 900, 2024](https://qualicumbeach.com/preview/?file_path=Bylaws/Zoning%20Bylaw%2C%20Bylaw%20No.%20900%2C%202024/Zoning%20Bylaw%2C%20Bylaw%20No.%20900%2C%202024%20(Combined%20Version).pdf), \"home occupation\" is a permitted use in the Residential 1 and 2 zones and the rural zones A1 to A4, run by a resident of the dwelling. Several other zones list it as not applicable. Home businesses are allowed in strata units if no clients come into the complex's non-public areas.\n\n**Limits:**\n\n- at most one non-resident employee\n- inside the dwelling only, no outdoor storage\n- at most 20% of the dwelling or 50 m², whichever is less\n- at most four clients or patrons on the property at once, with only one customer served at a time\n- no sale of goods not produced on the parcel; no nuisance\n- one non-illuminated sign under the Sign Bylaw\n- at most two home occupations per dwelling\n- parking follows Schedule 3B: none required except 1 per non-resident employee, 2 for sales of goods and 2 for customer or client service\n\n**Not allowed:** car repair, boat repair, engine repair, restaurants, retail food sales and kennels, or anything that creates a nuisance (smell, noise, fumes, vibration, glare) or uses materials producing flammable or explosive vapours.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Check your zone and the limits above (see zoning-lookup).\n2. Complete the Town's Business Licence Application with a floor plan and a site and parking plan.\n3. Submit it with payment at Town Hall or by mail (PO Box 130).\n\n## Good to know\n\n- The Town's business licence page and form say two off-street parking spaces are required. The bylaw's table requires none unless there are employees, sales or client service. Confirm with the Town.\n- The Town's fee schedule has no home-based category; ask which line applies (see business-licence).","sources":[{"url":"https://qualicumbeach.com/business-licences","title":"Business Licences, Town of Qualicum Beach","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://qualicumbeach.com/preview/?file_path=Bylaws/Zoning%20Bylaw%2C%20Bylaw%20No.%20900%2C%202024/Zoning%20Bylaw%2C%20Bylaw%20No.%20900%2C%202024%20(Combined%20Version).pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 900, 2024 (Combined Version) (PDF), Town of Qualicum Beach","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://qualicumbeach.com/preview/?file_path=Application%20Forms/Business%20Licence%20Applications/General%20Business%20Licence%20%28commercial%2C%20industrial%2C%20home%20based%2C%20B%26B%2C%20daycare%29/Business%20License%20Application%20%28General%29%2Epdf","title":"General Business Licence Application (PDF), Town of Qualicum Beach","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://qualicumbeach.com/preview/?file_path=Bylaws/Business%20Licensing%20and%20Regulation%20Bylaw%20No%2E%20506%2E07%20%28Consolidated%20to%20Bylaw%20No%2E%20506%2E09%2C%202003%29%2Epdf","title":"Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 506 (PDF), Town of Qualicum Beach","accessed":"2026-11-06"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-06","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 5 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/home-based-business/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/home-based-business.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/home-based-business.json"}}