---
title: Qualicum Beach home-based business rules
question: "Can I run a business from my home in Qualicum Beach?"
place: Qualicum Beach, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/qualicum-beach
category: Starting and running a business
owner: municipal
owner_body: Town of Qualicum Beach
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/home-based-business/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/home-based-business.json"
---

# Qualicum Beach home-based business rules

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

**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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Town of Qualicum Beach, https://www.qualicumbeach.com)  
**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:**
- Online: Business Licences, Town of Qualicum Beach, https://qualicumbeach.com/business-licences
- In person: Town Hall, #201-660 Primrose Street, Qualicum Beach, BC V9K 1S7 (Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)
- Phone: Town Hall, 250-752-6921

## Key facts

- **Allowed:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 900, 2024 (Combined Version), s. 3.4.111 (R1), s. 3.4.11 (A1), s. 3.3 item 21](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%29.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Business Licences, Home Based Businesses](https://qualicumbeach.com/business-licences)
  - Official wording: "Home based businesses are allowed in strata units"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Business licence:** 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).
  - Source: [Business Licences, Home Based Businesses](https://qualicumbeach.com/business-licences)
  - Official wording: "Home based businesses require a business licence to operate in Qualicum Beach."
  - Source: [General Business Licence Application, Schedule A](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)
  - Official wording: "BUSINESSES NOT DESCRIBED IN THIS SCHEDULE (per classification)" … "$110.00" … "Unless otherwise stated, the fee specified is for the calendar year."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Limits:** 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. (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.)
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 900, 2024 (Combined Version), s. 3.3 item 21; Schedule 3B Table 1](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%29.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Business Licences, Home Based Businesses](https://qualicumbeach.com/business-licences)
  - Official wording: "Two off-street parking spaces are provided."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Businesses not allowed:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 900, 2024 (Combined Version), s. 3.3 item 21(i) and (j)](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%29.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Town of Qualicum Beach Zoning Bylaw No. 900, 2024 (s. 3.3 item 21); Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 506
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 900, 2024 (Combined Version), s. 1 and s. 3.3 item 21](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%29.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Town of Qualicum Beach Zoning Bylaw No. 900," … "21. Home Occupation"
  - Source: [Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 506, title](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)
  - Official wording: "Bylaw Bylaw No. 506.07- No. 506.07 - Business Licencing Licencing and and Regulation Regulation Bylaw Bylaw"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under 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.

**Limits:**

- 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 and 2 for customer or client service

**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.

## Steps

1. Check your zone and the limits above (see zoning-lookup).
2. Complete the Town's Business Licence Application with a floor plan and a site and parking plan.
3. Submit it with payment at Town Hall or by mail (PO Box 130).

## Good to know

- 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.
- The Town's fee schedule has no home-based category; ask which line applies (see business-licence).

## Official forms and pages

- [General Business Licence Application (PDF)](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)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 900, 2024 (PDF)](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%29.pdf)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Home-based business rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/home-based-business.md)
- [Parksville](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/parksville/home-based-business.md)
- [Lantzville](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lantzville/home-based-business.md)
- [Port Alberni](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/home-based-business.md)
- [Nanaimo](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/home-based-business.md)
- [Sechelt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/home-based-business.md)
- [Comox](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/home-based-business.md)

## Sources

- [Business Licences, Town of Qualicum Beach](https://qualicumbeach.com/business-licences) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 900, 2024 (Combined Version) (PDF), Town of Qualicum Beach](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%29.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [General Business Licence Application (PDF), Town of Qualicum Beach](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) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 506 (PDF), Town of Qualicum Beach](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) (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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Town of Qualicum Beach. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/home-based-business/_