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Victoria home-based business rules

Can I run a business from my home?

Victoria, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

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.

Key facts

AllowedYes, 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.Zoning Bylaw 2018, section 20, Zoning Bylaw 2018, s. 4.1 GRD-1 and s. 4.2 LVD-1 permitted uses; Zoning Regulation Bylaw, Schedule D, Home Occupations, Zoning Regulation Bylaw, Schedule D, s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
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
Where home occupations are permitted pursuant to the provisions
Business licenceYes. 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.Zoning Bylaw 2018, section 20, Zoning Bylaw 2018, s. 20(a); Starting a Business (How to Start a Home-Based Business), How to Start a Home-Based Business, Step 4; Starting a Business (How to Start a Home-Based Business), FAQ 3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
A City business license is required;
The fee for a home-based business licence is $100 per year.
you can have up to three home occupation business licences registered to the same address
LimitsZoning 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.Zoning Regulation Bylaw, Schedule D, Home Occupations, Zoning Regulation Bylaw, Schedule D, s. 4, 7-10; Zoning Bylaw 2018, section 20, Zoning Bylaw 2018, s. 20(b), (f), (g) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
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
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,
Businesses not allowedSchedule 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.Zoning Regulation Bylaw, Schedule D, Home Occupations, Zoning Regulation Bylaw, Schedule D, s. 6; Zoning Bylaw 2018, section 20, Zoning Bylaw 2018, s. 20(c), (d), (e) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
All uses that are noxious or offensive to any other dwelling
car repairs and garages;
(f) restaurants;
(g) retail stores;
cannabis-related business
The provision of escort and dating services within a multi-residential Building is not
The operation of any cannabis-related business is not permitted
BylawZoning Regulation Bylaw No. 80-159, Schedule D (Home Occupations); Zoning Bylaw 2018 (No. 18-072), s. 20; Business Licence Bylaw No. 89-071.Zoning Regulation Bylaw, Schedule D, Home Occupations; Zoning Bylaw 2018, section 20, s. 20 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
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
Home Occupations must comply with the following:

How it works

In 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 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 of the older Zoning Regulation Bylaw sets the conditions. Check which bylaw covers your address (see the zoning-lookup answer).

Steps

  1. Confirm which zoning bylaw applies to your address and that your business is a permitted home occupation. Ask the Business Hub or Business Licences.
  2. Complete the business licence application and check the "home occupation" box.
  3. Send it with supporting documents to businesslicence@victoria.ca. Approval is expected within 10 business days if the documents are complete.

Good to know

  • Up to three home occupation licences may share an address.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Oak Bay · Esquimalt · View Royal · Saanich · Colwood · Langford

Home-based business rules in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Starting a Business (How to Start a Home-Based Business), City of Victoria (read 2026-11-05)
  2. Zoning Regulation Bylaw, Schedule D, Home Occupations (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  3. Zoning Bylaw 2018 (PDF), section 20 (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. How answers are checked.