{"title":"Sidney home-based business rules","question":"Can I run a business from my home?","slug":"home-based-business","place":{"path":"ca/bc/sidney","name":"Sidney","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 Sidney","url":"https://www.sidney.ca"},"short_answer":"In Sidney you can run a home occupation as a conditional use if it stays incidental to the dwelling and meets the zoning limits. You need a business licence: $50 for a minor home occupation, $100 for a home occupation. No retail sales or outdoor storage.","aliases":["home occupation sidney","work from home business licence sidney","home business bylaw sidney bc","home based business rules sidney"],"cost":"Business licence $50 (minor home occupation such as a hobby shop, craft shop, instructor or private teacher) or $100 (home occupation), for the calendar year.","how_long":"Not stated.","where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Development Services (building, planning, business licences)","value":"250-656-1725"},{"type":"email","label":"Business licensing","value":"licensing@sidney.ca"},{"type":"in_person","label":"Town Hall","value":"2440 Sidney Avenue, Sidney, BC V8L 1Y7","note":"Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m."}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2275 (PDF)","url":"https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2275-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf"},{"title":"Business Licence Bylaw No. 2119 (PDF)","url":"https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2119-Business-Licence.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"business-licence","title":"Sidney business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sidney/business-licence/"},{"slug":"secondary-suite","title":"Sidney secondary suite and carriage house rules","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sidney/secondary-suite/"},{"slug":"short-term-rental","title":"Sidney short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sidney/short-term-rental/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Sidney zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sidney/zoning-lookup/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/north-saanich","name":"North Saanich","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/central-saanich","name":"Central Saanich","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/highlands","name":"Highlands","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/saanich","name":"Saanich","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/view-royal","name":"View Royal","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/langford","name":"Langford","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/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 conditional use. A home occupation is allowed in the Neighbourhood Residential zones (s. 4.2.2), Multi-Unit Residential zones (s. 4.3.2) and also in the commercial, industrial and marine zones and some CD zones, if the conditions are met. It must be clearly incidental and subordinate to the dwelling.","short":"Yes, as a conditional use","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2275-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2275 (PDF, consolidated July 21, 2025)","section":"s. 4.2.1 and 4.2.2","quotes":["Home Occupation C (4.2.2) C (4.2.2) C (4.2.2) C (4.2.2) C (4.2.2) C (4.2.2)","All home occupations shall be clearly incidental and subordinate to the residential use of the"]},{"url":"https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2275-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2275 (PDF, consolidated July 21, 2025)","section":"s. 4.3.2","quotes":["4.3.2 Conditional Use Regulations for Home Occupations"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"licence":{"label":"Business licence","value":"Yes. Minor home occupation (hobby shop, craft shop, instructor or private teacher): $50. Home occupation: $100. The licence is for the calendar year.","short":"Yes: $100 ($50 for minor home occupation)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2119-Business-Licence.pdf","title":"Business Licence Bylaw No. 2119 (PDF)","section":"Schedule A","quotes":["Minor Home Occupation $50.00","Home Occupation $100.00"]},{"url":"https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2119-Business-Licence.pdf","title":"Business Licence Bylaw No. 2119 (PDF)","section":"definitions","quotes":["Minor Home Occupation: includes a hobby shop, craft shop, instructor, or private","Home Occupation: includes the provision of goods or services from a residence in the"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"limits":{"label":"Limits","value":"Neighbourhood Residential zones: wholly inside the dwelling or accessory building; only residents work on site; nothing detectable outside; no retail sales or outdoor storage; normal residential traffic and parking; two per dwelling unit; up to 20% of floor area or 50 m² (15 m² in a suite). Client-visit businesses: one per unit, no more than two clients at once. Licence bylaw: occupant's vehicle plus one business vehicle.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2275-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2275 (PDF, consolidated July 21, 2025)","section":"s. 4.2.2.a and b","quotes":["be conducted wholly within the dwelling unit or accessory building, with the","have only residents of the property engaged in on-site business activities, with the","not exceed a maximum of two home occupations per dwelling unit.","shall not exceed 20% of the gross","They are not located on a property that contains more than two dwelling units; and","They have no more than two customers or clients in the unit at one time, with the"]},{"url":"https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2119-Business-Licence.pdf","title":"Business Licence Bylaw No. 2119 (PDF)","section":"s. 10.14","quotes":["shall not include or allow the parking or stopping of vehicles on or about"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"not_allowed":{"label":"Businesses not allowed","value":"No display or retail sale of goods, wares or merchandise from the property, and no external storage. Multi-unit residential zones do not permit high-traffic home occupations (those receiving customers or clients, such as daycares, personal service, medical, dental, law and accounting offices); in Neighbourhood Residential zones they are allowed only within strict limits.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2275-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2275 (PDF, consolidated July 21, 2025)","section":"s. 4.2.2.a.iv; 4.3.2.c; definition","quotes":["not involve the display or retail sale of goods, wares, merchandise, or foodstuffs from","High traffic home occupations are not permitted.","Home Occupation, High Traffic: A home occupation that receives customers or clients in a dwelling"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Town of Sidney Zoning Bylaw No. 2275 (s. 4.2.2 and related sections); Business Licence Bylaw No. 2119 (s. 10.14, Schedule A)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2275-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2275 (PDF, consolidated July 21, 2025)","section":"s. 4.2.2","quotes":["4.2.2 Conditional Use Regulations for Home Occupations"]},{"url":"https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2119-Business-Licence.pdf","title":"Business Licence Bylaw No. 2119 (PDF)","section":"s. 10.14","quotes":["Sidney, verify to the Town the address or location of the impound yard. 10.14 Home Occupations: a. the Business must comply with all conditions for home occupation requirements in the","TOWN OF SIDNEY BYLAW NO. 2119 (CONSOLIDATED)"]}],"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\nA home occupation is a conditional use under the [Zoning Bylaw No. 2275](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2275-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf). It is allowed in the Neighbourhood Residential zones (s. 4.2.2), Multi-Unit Residential zones (s. 4.3.2) and also in the commercial, industrial and marine zones and some CD zones, if the conditions are met. It must be clearly incidental and subordinate to the dwelling.\n\nIn Neighbourhood Residential zones the business must be wholly inside the dwelling or an accessory building, only residents may work on site, and nothing may be detectable outside. There can be no retail sales or outdoor storage, only normal residential traffic and parking (two spaces per dwelling unit), and it may use up to 20% of floor area or 50 m² (15 m² in a suite). The [Business Licence Bylaw No. 2119](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2119-Business-Licence.pdf) allows the occupant's vehicle plus one business vehicle.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Check your zone (see the zoning-lookup answer) and the limits above.\n2. Apply for a business licence (see the business-licence answer). Choose minor home occupation ($50) or home occupation ($100).\n3. Renew each calendar year.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- No display or retail sale of goods, wares or merchandise from the property, and no external storage.\n- High-traffic home occupations are those that receive customers or clients, such as daycares, personal service, medical, dental, law and accounting offices. Multi-unit residential zones do not permit them. In Neighbourhood Residential zones they are allowed only within strict limits: one per dwelling unit, not on a property with more than two dwelling units, and no more than two clients at one time (daycares excepted).","sources":[{"url":"https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2275-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 2275 (PDF, consolidated July 21, 2025)","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2119-Business-Licence.pdf","title":"Business Licence Bylaw No. 2119 (PDF)","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/sidney/home-based-business/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sidney/home-based-business.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sidney/home-based-business.json"}}