---
title: Richmond home-based business rules
question: "Can I run a business from my home?"
place: Richmond, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/richmond
category: Starting and running a business
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Richmond
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/richmond/home-based-business/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/richmond/home-based-business.json"
---

# Richmond home-based business rules

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

**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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Richmond, https://www.richmond.ca)  
**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:**
- Phone: Business Licences, 604-276-4328
- Online: Apply in MyBusiness, https://www.richmond.ca/business-development/resources/business-licences/mybusiness.htm
- Phone: Zoning Information, 604-276-4017

## Key facts

- **Allowed:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 8500, Section 5 Specific Use Regulations, s. 5.2.1 a), 5.2.3, 5.2.11 a)](https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/SpecificUseRegs24224.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Appendix B, Home Business Uses, Definitions](https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/bl136163.pdf)
  - Official wording: "“Child care program” means a home business with a maximum of 8 children"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Business licence:** 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.
  - Source: [Starting a Business in Richmond, page 2](https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/startingbusinessenglish202472772.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Home-based businesses are also required to apply"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 8500, Section 5 Specific Use Regulations, s. 5.2.8 a)](https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/SpecificUseRegs24224.pdf)
  - Official wording: "All child care programs that are home businesses are not required to" … "obtain a business license from the City"
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw 7360, Part 3 definitions](https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/BL_7360_Consolidated_with_ABL_10669_06092577121.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Home Occupation, which means a business being carried on within a dwelling"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Limits:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 8500, Section 5 Specific Use Regulations, s. 5.2.1, 5.2.2, 5.2.4 to 5.2.6, 5.2.11](https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/SpecificUseRegs24224.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 8500, Agriculture (AG1) zone, AG1 other regulations](https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/AG1-424006.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Businesses not allowed:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 8500, Section 5 Specific Use Regulations, s. 5.2.1 b), g), 5.2.3, 5.2.4 e)](https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/SpecificUseRegs24224.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Richmond Zoning Bylaw No. 8500, Section 5.2 (Home Businesses and Home-Based Businesses); Business Licence Bylaw No. 7360
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 8500, Section 5 Specific Use Regulations, s. 5.2](https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/SpecificUseRegs24224.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Home Businesses and Home-Based Businesses"
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw 7360, title](https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/BL_7360_Consolidated_with_ABL_10669_06092577121.pdf)
  - Official wording: "BUSINESS LICENCE BYLAW NO. 7360"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

In 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.

## Steps

1. Read Appendix B and confirm your activity is an allowed type, and that your zone allows home businesses (Zoning, 604-276-4017).
2. Apply in MyBusiness, or by mail or in person with the Business Licence Application Form.
3. Ask Business Licences (604-276-4328) which category and fee apply.

## Good to know

- 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.
- No outdoor storage or manufacturing, nothing detectable off the property, and normal traffic only.
- One unlit sign, at most 0.2 m² (0.1 m² in the City Centre).
- In agricultural zones a home business is limited to 100 m², inside the dwelling.
- Not allowed: a home business in conjunction with a community care facility, or selling stock in trade other than articles produced on the premises.
- Child care programs take up to 8 children and need an outdoor child care space.
- The bylaw sets no floor-area or employee limit in section 5.2.

## What you'll need

- Business Licence Application Form
- Appendix B, Home Business Uses

## Official forms and pages

- [Appendix B, Home Business Uses (PDF)](https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/bl136163.pdf)
- [Zoning Bylaw 8500, Section 5 Specific Use Regulations (PDF)](https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/SpecificUseRegs24224.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Richmond business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/richmond/business-licence.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Home-based business rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/home-based-business.md)
- [Burnaby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/home-based-business.md)
- [North Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver/home-based-business.md)
- [New Westminster](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/home-based-business.md)
- [Delta](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/delta/home-based-business.md)
- [District of North Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/home-based-business.md)
- [Belcarra](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/home-based-business.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw 8500, Section 5 Specific Use Regulations (PDF), City of Richmond](https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/SpecificUseRegs24224.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Appendix B, Home Business Uses (PDF), City of Richmond](https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/bl136163.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Starting a Business in Richmond (PDF), City of Richmond](https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/startingbusinessenglish202472772.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Business Licence Bylaw 7360 (PDF), City of Richmond](https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/BL_7360_Consolidated_with_ABL_10669_06092577121.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning Bylaw 8500, Agriculture (AG1) zone (PDF), City of Richmond](https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/AG1-424006.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [MyBusiness Portal, City of Richmond](https://www.richmond.ca/business-development/resources/business-licences/mybusiness.htm) (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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Richmond. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/richmond/home-based-business/_