{"title":"Richmond home-based business rules","question":"Can I run a business from my home?","slug":"home-based-business","place":{"path":"ca/bc/richmond","name":"Richmond","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":"City of Richmond","url":"https://www.richmond.ca"},"short_answer":"Yes, in Richmond if it fits one of the Zoning Bylaw's home business types and you hold a City business licence. A home business licence is issued only for licensed crafts and teaching, a residential registered office, a residential business office, or a child care program of up to 8 children.","aliases":["home occupation richmond","home business licence richmond bc","work from home business richmond"],"cost":"Not stated as a separate home-business fee; fees depend on the business category. Ask the Business Licence office (604-276-4328).","how_long":"Home-based businesses are not covered by the City's 4 to 6 week estimate, and the City does not give a time for them.","where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Business Licences","value":"604-276-4328"},{"type":"online","label":"Apply in MyBusiness","value":"https://www.richmond.ca/business-development/resources/business-licences/mybusiness.htm"},{"type":"phone","label":"Zoning Information","value":"604-276-4017"}],"documents":["Business Licence Application Form","Appendix B, Home Business Uses"],"forms":[{"title":"Appendix B, Home Business Uses (PDF)","url":"https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/bl136163.pdf"},{"title":"Zoning Bylaw 8500, Section 5 Specific Use Regulations (PDF)","url":"https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/SpecificUseRegs24224.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"business-licence","title":"Richmond business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/richmond/business-licence/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/burnaby","name":"Burnaby","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/north-vancouver","name":"North Vancouver","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/new-westminster","name":"New Westminster","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/delta","name":"Delta","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/delta/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/north-vancouver-district","name":"District of North Vancouver","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/belcarra","name":"Belcarra","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/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, as a secondary use of a dwelling in most residential zones, agriculture and some commercial zones. A home business licence is issued only for licensed crafts and teaching, residential registered office, residential business office, or a child care program (up to 8 children). Home-based businesses (studios) are allowed in the City Centre only.","short":"Yes, in most residential zones; limited kinds","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/SpecificUseRegs24224.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw 8500, Section 5 Specific Use Regulations (PDF), City of Richmond","section":"s. 5.2.1 a), 5.2.3, 5.2.11 a)","quotes":["be considered secondary uses and will have a fixed expiry date","A home business licence may only be issued where the activities of the home business fall under one of the following categories","be located in the City Centre only","A home business licence may only be issued where the activities of the home business fall"]},{"url":"https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/bl136163.pdf","title":"Appendix B, Home Business Uses (PDF), City of Richmond","section":"Definitions","quotes":["“Child care program” means a home business with a maximum of 8 children"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"licence":{"label":"Business licence","value":"Yes. Home-based businesses must apply for a business licence, which has a fixed expiry date. A child care program that is a home business does not need a City licence. The fee schedule has no separate home-business rate; fees depend on the business category.","short":"Yes; fee depends on business category","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/startingbusinessenglish202472772.pdf","title":"Starting a Business in Richmond (PDF), City of Richmond","section":"page 2","quotes":["Home-based businesses are also required to apply"]},{"url":"https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/SpecificUseRegs24224.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw 8500, Section 5 Specific Use Regulations (PDF), City of Richmond","section":"s. 5.2.8 a)","quotes":["All child care programs that are home businesses are not required to","obtain a business license from the City"]},{"url":"https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/BL_7360_Consolidated_with_ABL_10669_06092577121.pdf","title":"Business Licence Bylaw 7360 (PDF), City of Richmond","section":"Part 3 definitions","quotes":["Home Occupation, which means a business being carried on within a dwelling"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"limits":{"label":"Limits","value":"Only household members work there (crafts and teaching: one client per resident); no outdoor storage or manufacturing; nothing detectable off-site; normal traffic. One unlit sign, max 0.2 m² (0.1 m² in City Centre). Home-based: max three clients at a time. Agricultural zones: home business max 100 m², inside the dwelling. Child care: up to 8 children.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/SpecificUseRegs24224.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw 8500, Section 5 Specific Use Regulations (PDF), City of Richmond","section":"s. 5.2.1, 5.2.2, 5.2.4 to 5.2.6, 5.2.11","quotes":["not produce noise, vibration, smoke, dust, odours, heat, glare, electrical or radio","not generate pedestrian or vehicular traffic to a greater extent than is normal in the zone","one non-illuminated identification sign that indicates the name of the business. The sign shall not exceed 0.2 m²","only involve one non-resident for each member of the household teaching or doing a","not permit commercial vehicles to be stored or parked on the property","be limited to a maximum of three clients on the premises at any one time"]},{"url":"https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/AG1-424006.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw 8500, Agriculture (AG1) zone (PDF), City of Richmond","section":"AG1 other regulations","quotes":["A home business shall be limited to a maximum floor area of 100.0 m2 and must be located and carried out wholly within the dwelling unit and not an accessory building."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"not_allowed":{"label":"Businesses not allowed","value":"A home business outside licensed crafts and teaching, residential registered or business offices, or child care programs (a home-based business is allowed in the City Centre only). Also not allowed: a home business with a community care facility, outdoor manufacturing, or selling stock in trade other than articles produced on the premises.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/SpecificUseRegs24224.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw 8500, Section 5 Specific Use Regulations (PDF), City of Richmond","section":"s. 5.2.1 b), g), 5.2.3, 5.2.4 e)","quotes":["not be located in conjunction with a minor or major community care facility","not manufacture materials or equipment outdoors","A home business licence may only be issued where the activities of the home business fall under one of the following categories","not display or sell stock in trade, excepting articles actually produced on the premises"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Richmond Zoning Bylaw No. 8500, Section 5.2 (Home Businesses and Home-Based Businesses); Business Licence Bylaw No. 7360","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/SpecificUseRegs24224.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw 8500, Section 5 Specific Use Regulations (PDF), City of Richmond","section":"s. 5.2","quotes":["Home Businesses and Home-Based Businesses"]},{"url":"https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/BL_7360_Consolidated_with_ABL_10669_06092577121.pdf","title":"Business Licence Bylaw 7360 (PDF), City of Richmond","section":"title","quotes":["BUSINESS LICENCE BYLAW NO. 7360"]}],"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\nIn Richmond, a home business is a secondary use of a dwelling in most residential zones, agriculture and some commercial zones. [Zoning Bylaw 8500](https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/SpecificUseRegs24224.pdf) section 5.2 sets the rules. Home-based businesses (studios) are allowed in the City Centre only. They still need a City business licence, which has a fixed expiry date. A child care program that is a home business does not need a City licence.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Read Appendix B and confirm your activity is an allowed type, and that your zone allows home businesses (Zoning, 604-276-4017).\n2. Apply in MyBusiness, or by mail or in person with the Business Licence Application Form.\n3. Ask Business Licences (604-276-4328) which category and fee apply.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Only household members may work there (for crafts and teaching, one client per resident). Home-based studios allow at most three clients at a time.\n- No outdoor storage or manufacturing, nothing detectable off the property, and normal traffic only.\n- One unlit sign, at most 0.2 m² (0.1 m² in the City Centre).\n- In agricultural zones a home business is limited to 100 m², inside the dwelling.\n- Not allowed: a home business in conjunction with a community care facility, or selling stock in trade other than articles produced on the premises.\n- Child care programs take up to 8 children and need an outdoor child care space.\n- The bylaw sets no floor-area or employee limit in section 5.2.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/SpecificUseRegs24224.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw 8500, Section 5 Specific Use Regulations (PDF), City of Richmond","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/bl136163.pdf","title":"Appendix B, Home Business Uses (PDF), City of Richmond","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/startingbusinessenglish202472772.pdf","title":"Starting a Business in Richmond (PDF), City of Richmond","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/BL_7360_Consolidated_with_ABL_10669_06092577121.pdf","title":"Business Licence Bylaw 7360 (PDF), City of Richmond","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/AG1-424006.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw 8500, Agriculture (AG1) zone (PDF), City of Richmond","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.richmond.ca/business-development/resources/business-licences/mybusiness.htm","title":"MyBusiness Portal, City of Richmond","accessed":"2026-11-05"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-05","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/richmond/home-based-business/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/richmond/home-based-business.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/richmond/home-based-business.json"}}