{"title":"Surrey home-based business rules","question":"Can I run a business from my home?","slug":"home-based-business","place":{"path":"ca/bc/surrey","name":"Surrey","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 Surrey","url":"https://www.surrey.ca"},"short_answer":"Usually yes. The City of Surrey allows most businesses to run from home if they follow the zoning rules and hold a City business licence. Social escort services, automotive service uses and tow truck operations are not allowed at home. Rules differ for houses and duplexes versus apartments and townhouses.","aliases":["home occupation surrey","home business licence","bed and breakfast surrey","work from home business rules"],"cost":"Set by business category in Schedule A of Bylaw 13680 (for example Consultant $269 per year plus $37 per employee). An online application costs $50, credited to the first year's fee.","how_long":null,"where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Business Licensing","value":"604-591-4370"},{"type":"online","label":"Online Business Licensing Application Portal","value":"https://mbo.surrey.ca/obl/"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Home-Based Business Regulations","url":"https://www.surrey.ca/business-economy/business-licensing/types-of-businesses/home-based-business-regulations"},{"title":"Surrey Zoning By-law 12000","url":"https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/12000"},{"title":"Surrey Business License By-law 13680","url":"https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/13680"}],"related":[{"slug":"business-licence","title":"Surrey business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/surrey/business-licence/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/langley","name":"Langley City","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/white-rock","name":"White Rock","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/white-rock/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/port-coquitlam","name":"Port Coquitlam","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-coquitlam/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/langley-township","name":"Township of Langley","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley-township/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/coquitlam","name":"Coquitlam","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coquitlam/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. The City allows most businesses to be run from home if the zoning rules are followed. Type I home occupations are allowed in any zone permitting a single family dwelling or duplex; Type II (telephone and records only) in any zone permitting a dwelling unit.","short":"Yes, Type I in zones allowing single family or duplex","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.surrey.ca/business-economy/business-licensing/types-of-businesses/home-based-business-regulations","title":"Home-Based Business Regulations, City of Surrey","section":"Home-Based Business Regulations","quotes":["The City of Surrey allows most businesses to be operated from home, provided that the zoning regulations for home-based businesses are followed."]},{"url":"https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/12000","title":"Surrey Zoning By-law, 1993, No. 12000, Part 4 Section B.11","section":"Part 4, s. B.11","quotes":["Type I Home Occupations are permitted in any Zone permitting either a single","Type II Home Occupations are permitted in any Zone permitting a dwelling unit"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"licence":{"label":"Business licence","value":"Yes. A Surrey business licence is required; fees are set by business category in Schedule A of the Business License Bylaw (for example Consultant $269 per year plus $37 per employee). An online application costs $50, credited to the first year's fee. An officer may inspect.","short":"Yes: by category, e.g. $269 consultant; $50 online","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.surrey.ca/business-economy/business-licensing/types-of-businesses","title":"Types of Businesses, City of Surrey","section":"Home-based business","quotes":["If you are starting a new home-based business in Surrey, follow these steps to receive your business licence:","an inspection by a Bylaw Services Officer may take place to ensure your business is in compliance with the Home-Based Business Regulations."]},{"url":"https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/13680","title":"Surrey Business License By-law, 1999, No. 13680","section":"Schedule \"A\"; s. 14.1","quotes":["Consultant $269.00 per year (plus $37.00 per employee)","An application made online must be accompanied by payment of an application fee of $50.00."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"limits":{"label":"Limits","value":"Single family or duplex: only immediate family living there may be employed; no goods displayed or sold; no change to the dwelling; at most 25% of one floor; no visible storage or illuminated signs. Apartments and townhouses: telephone and records only, no goods, no signs, no vehicle or equipment storage on or near the lot.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/12000","title":"Surrey Zoning By-law, 1993, No. 12000, Part 4 Section B.11","section":"Part 4, s. B.11(a)","quotes":["No person other than a member of the immediate family occupying the","No goods are displayed or sold on the premises;","The aggregate floor area of all home occupations shall not exceed 25% of","No evidence of the home occupation including storage of materials or","The use of the premises for a home occupation shall be confined to the incidental use of a telephone and records pertaining directly to that business;","No goods are to be displayed, stored or sold on the premises;","No signs are displayed on the premises;"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"not_allowed":{"label":"Businesses not allowed","value":"Social escort services, automotive service uses and tow truck operations.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.surrey.ca/business-economy/business-licensing/types-of-businesses/home-based-business-regulations","title":"Home-Based Business Regulations, City of Surrey","section":"Home-Based Business Regulations","quotes":["Businesses that are not permitted from home are:","social escort agencies"]},{"url":"https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/12000","title":"Surrey Zoning By-law, 1993, No. 12000, Part 4 Section B.11","section":"Part 1, definition of Home Occupation","quotes":["but shall exclude social escort services, automotive service uses and tow truck operations."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Surrey Zoning By-law, 1993, No. 12000 (Part 4, s. B.11 Home Occupations); Business License By-law, 1999, No. 13680","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/12000","title":"Surrey Zoning By-law, 1993, No. 12000, Part 4 Section B.11","section":"Part 4, s. B.11","quotes":["Surrey Zoning By-law, 1993, No. 12000","Home Occupations:"]},{"url":"https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/13680","title":"Surrey Business License By-law, 1999, No. 13680","section":"s. 1","quotes":["This By-law may be cited for all purposes as \"Business License By-law, 1999, No. 13680.\""]}],"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\nThe City of Surrey allows most businesses to be run from home if [Zoning Bylaw 12000](https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/12000) (Part 4, s. B.11) is followed. Type I home occupations are allowed in any zone permitting a single family dwelling or duplex; Type II (telephone and records only) in any zone permitting a dwelling unit. You also need a Surrey business licence under [Business License Bylaw 13680](https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/13680), and an officer may inspect.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Read the City's home-based business regulations and confirm your business is allowed.\n2. Call Business Licensing (604-591-4370) to confirm your fee category and any extra requirements.\n3. Apply through the Online Business Licensing Application Portal.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Single family homes and duplexes: only immediate family living there may be employed; no goods displayed or sold; no change to the dwelling; at most 25% of one floor; no visible storage or illuminated signs.\n- Apartments, townhouses and condos: use is limited to a telephone and records; no goods, no signs, and no vehicle or equipment storage on or near the lot. Renters need the landlord's permission.\n- Not allowed at home, per the City page: social escort services, automotive service uses and tow truck operations.\n- Selling or displaying goods, or storing things outside, is a municipal ticket offence at $200 each.\n- The bylaw does not state limits on customer visits or parking. Ask Business Licensing if this matters for your business.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/12000","title":"Surrey Zoning By-law, 1993, No. 12000, Part 4 Section B.11","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/13680","title":"Surrey Business License By-law, 1999, No. 13680","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.surrey.ca/business-economy/business-licensing/types-of-businesses/home-based-business-regulations","title":"Home-Based Business Regulations, City of Surrey","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.surrey.ca/business-economy/business-licensing/types-of-businesses","title":"Types of Businesses, City of Surrey","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/surrey/home-based-business/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/surrey/home-based-business.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/surrey/home-based-business.json"}}