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

# Sidney home-based business rules

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

**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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Town of Sidney, https://www.sidney.ca)  
**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:**
- Phone: Development Services (building, planning, business licences), 250-656-1725
- Email: Business licensing, licensing@sidney.ca
- In person: Town Hall, 2440 Sidney Avenue, Sidney, BC V8L 1Y7 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)

## Key facts

- **Allowed:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2275 (PDF, consolidated July 21, 2025), s. 4.2.1 and 4.2.2](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2275-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2275 (PDF, consolidated July 21, 2025), s. 4.3.2](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2275-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "4.3.2 Conditional Use Regulations for Home Occupations"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Business licence:** Yes. Minor home occupation (hobby shop, craft shop, instructor or private teacher): $50. Home occupation: $100. The licence is for the calendar year.
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 2119, Schedule A](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2119-Business-Licence.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Minor Home Occupation $50.00" … "Home Occupation $100.00"
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 2119, definitions](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2119-Business-Licence.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Limits:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2275 (PDF, consolidated July 21, 2025), s. 4.2.2.a and b](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2275-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 2119, s. 10.14](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2119-Business-Licence.pdf)
  - Official wording: "shall not include or allow the parking or stopping of vehicles on or about"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Businesses not allowed:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2275 (PDF, consolidated July 21, 2025), s. 4.2.2.a.iv; 4.3.2.c; definition](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2275-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Town of Sidney Zoning Bylaw No. 2275 (s. 4.2.2 and related sections); Business Licence Bylaw No. 2119 (s. 10.14, Schedule A)
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2275 (PDF, consolidated July 21, 2025), s. 4.2.2](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2275-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "4.2.2 Conditional Use Regulations for Home Occupations"
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 2119, s. 10.14](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2119-Business-Licence.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

A 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.

In 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.

## Steps

1. Check your zone (see the zoning-lookup answer) and the limits above.
2. Apply for a business licence (see the business-licence answer). Choose minor home occupation ($50) or home occupation ($100).
3. Renew each calendar year.

## Good to know

- No display or retail sale of goods, wares or merchandise from the property, and no external storage.
- 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).

## Official forms and pages

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 2275 (PDF)](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2275-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf)
- [Business Licence Bylaw No. 2119 (PDF)](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2119-Business-Licence.pdf)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Home-based business rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/home-based-business.md)
- [North Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/home-based-business.md)
- [Central Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/home-based-business.md)
- [Highlands](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/home-based-business.md)
- [Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/home-based-business.md)
- [View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/home-based-business.md)
- [Langford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/home-based-business.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 2275 (PDF, consolidated July 21, 2025)](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2275-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Business Licence Bylaw No. 2119 (PDF)](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2119-Business-Licence.pdf) (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 Sidney. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sidney/home-based-business/_