{"title":"Victoria home-based business rules","question":"Can I run a business from my home?","slug":"home-based-business","place":{"path":"ca/bc/victoria","name":"Victoria","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 Victoria","url":"https://www.victoria.ca"},"short_answer":"Often yes. In the City of Victoria a home business is allowed as a \"home occupation\" and needs a City business licence; the fee is $100 a year. Zoning Bylaw 2018 and Schedule D of the older Zoning Regulation Bylaw set the conditions, depending on which covers your property.","aliases":["home occupation victoria","home business licence victoria","work from home business licence"],"cost":"$100 a year for a home-based business licence.","how_long":"About 10 business days for a complete application.","where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Business Hub","value":"250-361-0629"},{"type":"email","label":"Business Hub","value":"bizhub@victoria.ca"},{"type":"phone","label":"Business Licences","value":"250-361-0572"},{"type":"email","label":"Business Licences","value":"businesslicence@victoria.ca"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Schedule D, Home Occupations (PDF)","url":"https://www.victoria.ca/media/1198"},{"title":"General Business Application and Change Form (PDF)","url":"https://www.victoria.ca/media/file/general-business-licence-and-change-form"}],"related":[{"slug":"business-licence","title":"Victoria business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/business-licence/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/oak-bay","name":"Oak Bay","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oak-bay/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/esquimalt","name":"Esquimalt","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/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/saanich","name":"Saanich","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/colwood","name":"Colwood","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/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 home occupation. Zoning Bylaw 2018 lists Home Occupation as a permitted use in the GRD-1, LVD-1, CVD-1, TCD-1, CBD-1, CBD-2, MRD-1 and OTD-1 zones. Elsewhere, Zoning Regulation Bylaw Schedule D sets the conditions where home occupations are permitted.","short":"Yes, in listed zones","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.victoria.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-2018","title":"Zoning Bylaw 2018 (PDF), section 20","section":"Zoning Bylaw 2018, s. 4.1 GRD-1 and s. 4.2 LVD-1 permitted uses","quotes":["f. Home Occupation","i. Home Occupation","Non-Residential uses, other than Home Occupation, are not permitted above the second Storey.","Home Occupation means the use of a Residential Dwelling Unit or Float Home for the practice"]},{"url":"https://www.victoria.ca/media/1198","title":"Zoning Regulation Bylaw, Schedule D, Home Occupations (PDF)","section":"Zoning Regulation Bylaw, Schedule D, s. 1","quotes":["Where home occupations are permitted pursuant to the provisions"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"licence":{"label":"Business licence","value":"Yes. A City business licence is required. The fee for a home-based business licence is $100 per year (check the 'home occupation' box on the application). Up to three home occupation licences may share an address.","short":"Yes: $100 per year","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.victoria.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-2018","title":"Zoning Bylaw 2018 (PDF), section 20","section":"Zoning Bylaw 2018, s. 20(a)","quotes":["A City business license is required;"]},{"url":"https://www.victoria.ca/building-business/business-hub/starting-business","title":"Starting a Business (How to Start a Home-Based Business), City of Victoria","section":"How to Start a Home-Based Business, Step 4","quotes":["The fee for a home-based business licence is $100 per year."]},{"url":"https://www.victoria.ca/building-business/business-hub/starting-business","title":"Starting a Business (How to Start a Home-Based Business), City of Victoria","section":"FAQ 3","quotes":["you can have up to three home occupation business licences registered to the same address"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"limits":{"label":"Limits","value":"Zoning Bylaw 2018 (s. 20): sales on the premises only if accessory to the primary business; no nuisance beyond the premises; up to three per dwelling, one with customers; no signs. Zoning Regulation Bylaw Schedule D adds: one person living on the lot, no sales to customers attending, one licensed vehicle visible.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.victoria.ca/media/1198","title":"Zoning Regulation Bylaw, Schedule D, Home Occupations (PDF)","section":"Zoning Regulation Bylaw, Schedule D, s. 4, 7-10","quotes":["The sale of goods to customers attending on the lot on which the","not more than one person shall be","engaged in a home occupation, with the exception of","No more than three home occupations shall be carried on in","has customers that attend the dwelling unit.","attendance is limited to 5 persons","no sign or other advertising device or advertising matter may be"]},{"url":"https://www.victoria.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-2018","title":"Zoning Bylaw 2018 (PDF), section 20","section":"Zoning Bylaw 2018, s. 20(b), (f), (g)","quotes":["The sale of goods on the premises is not permitted, except as accessory to the primary","A Home Occupation may not create noise, electronic interference, dust, odour, smokeor any","No more than three Home Occupations shall be carried on in any one Dwelling Unit,"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"not_allowed":{"label":"Businesses not allowed","value":"Schedule D bars: car repairs and garages, clubs, kennels, radio dispatch, restaurants, retail stores, salvage lots, storage lots, cannabis-related businesses, bed and breakfast and transient accommodation or short-term rental (except as Schedule D allows), and anything noxious or offensive. Zoning Bylaw 2018 also bars escort and dating services in multi-residential buildings.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.victoria.ca/media/1198","title":"Zoning Regulation Bylaw, Schedule D, Home Occupations (PDF)","section":"Zoning Regulation Bylaw, Schedule D, s. 6","quotes":["All uses that are noxious or offensive to any other dwelling","car repairs and garages;","(f) restaurants;","(g) retail stores;","cannabis-related business"]},{"url":"https://www.victoria.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-2018","title":"Zoning Bylaw 2018 (PDF), section 20","section":"Zoning Bylaw 2018, s. 20(c), (d), (e)","quotes":["The provision of escort and dating services within a multi-residential Building is not","The operation of any cannabis-related business is not permitted"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Zoning Regulation Bylaw No. 80-159, Schedule D (Home Occupations); Zoning Bylaw 2018 (No. 18-072), s. 20; Business Licence Bylaw No. 89-071.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.victoria.ca/media/1198","title":"Zoning Regulation Bylaw, Schedule D, Home Occupations (PDF)","section":"Schedule D","quotes":["Schedule \"D\" HOME OCCUPATIONS 1 Where home occupations are permitted pursuant to the provisions of this bylaw, the following conditions shall apply to the use:","Amending Bylaw 09-01 adopted Jan 19, 2009 Amending Bylaw 17-110 adopted Jan 11, 2018 Amending Bylaw 18-035 adopted March 8, 2018"]},{"url":"https://www.victoria.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-2018","title":"Zoning Bylaw 2018 (PDF), section 20","section":"s. 20","quotes":["Home Occupations must comply with the following:"]}],"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 the City of Victoria a home-based business needs a City business licence and must meet the zoning rules for home occupations. [Zoning Bylaw 2018](https://www.victoria.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-2018) lists Home Occupation as a permitted use in the GRD-1, LVD-1, CVD-1, TCD-1, CBD-1, CBD-2, MRD-1 and OTD-1 zones. Elsewhere, [Schedule D](https://www.victoria.ca/media/1198) of the older Zoning Regulation Bylaw sets the conditions. Check which bylaw covers your address (see the zoning-lookup answer).\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Confirm which zoning bylaw applies to your address and that your business is a permitted home occupation. Ask the Business Hub or Business Licences.\n2. Complete the business licence application and check the \"home occupation\" box.\n3. Send it with supporting documents to businesslicence@victoria.ca. Approval is expected within 10 business days if the documents are complete.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Up to three home occupation licences may share an address.\n- Zoning Bylaw 2018 (s. 20): sales on the premises only if accessory to the primary business; no nuisance beyond the premises; up to three per dwelling, one with customers; no signs.\n- Schedule D adds: one person living on the lot, no sales to customers who attend, and one licensed vehicle visible. It also allows up to two people where the lot touches a lot in a zone permitting retail use and one lives on site.\n- Schedule D bars car repairs and garages, clubs, kennels, radio dispatch, restaurants, retail stores, salvage and storage lots, cannabis-related businesses, bed and breakfast and transient accommodation or short-term rental (except as Schedule D allows), and anything noxious or offensive. Zoning Bylaw 2018 also bars escort and dating services in multi-residential buildings.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.victoria.ca/building-business/business-hub/starting-business","title":"Starting a Business (How to Start a Home-Based Business), City of Victoria","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.victoria.ca/media/1198","title":"Zoning Regulation Bylaw, Schedule D, Home Occupations (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.victoria.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-2018","title":"Zoning Bylaw 2018 (PDF), section 20","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/victoria/home-based-business/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/home-based-business.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/home-based-business.json"}}