{"title":"White Rock home-based business rules","question":"Can I run a business from my home?","slug":"home-based-business","place":{"path":"ca/bc/white-rock","name":"White Rock","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 White Rock","url":"https://www.whiterockcity.ca"},"short_answer":"Yes. In White Rock an accessory home occupation is permitted in all zones that allow a residential use, if it meets the Zoning Bylaw's section 5.3 conditions and has a City business licence. It must be fully inside the home, use no more than 40% of the floor area, and sell no goods from the dwelling.","aliases":["home occupation white rock","work from home business licence white rock","home business rules white rock"],"cost":"No home-occupation fee is named in the Business Licence Bylaw. A business not named in any group pays $150 plus $25 per employee, but that schedule is from April 2020 and the City does not say whether it applies to home businesses.","how_long":null,"where":[{"type":"online","label":"MyWhiteRock business licence portal","value":"https://my.whiterockcity.ca/TempestApps/LoginManager/"},{"type":"phone","label":"Business Licence","value":"604-541-2139"},{"type":"email","label":"Business Licence","value":"licences@whiterockcity.ca"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Zoning Bylaw 2506, section 5.3 Accessory Home Occupation Use (PDF)","url":"https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/8003/Zoning-Bylaw-2024-No-2506-Adopted-June-27-2024"},{"title":"Business Licences and Permits page","url":"https://www.whiterockcity.ca/901/Business-Licences-Permits"}],"related":[{"slug":"business-licence","title":"White Rock business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/white-rock/business-licence/"},{"slug":"short-term-rental","title":"White Rock short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/white-rock/short-term-rental/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/surrey","name":"Surrey","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/surrey/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/langley","name":"Langley City","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley/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/delta","name":"Delta","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/delta/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/burnaby","name":"Burnaby","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/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. An accessory home occupation is permitted in all zones that allow a residential use, under the s. 5.3 conditions. In multi-unit and mixed commercial/residential zones, and on SSMUH lots with a bed and breakfast or short term rental, no clients may come to the building. Where an SSMUH lot has more than 2 units including a suite or detached unit, only a home office is allowed.","short":"Yes, in all zones allowing residential use","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/8003/Zoning-Bylaw-2024-No-2506-Adopted-June-27-2024","title":"Zoning Bylaw 2024, No. 2506 (PDF, section 5.3), City of White Rock","section":"s. 5.3.1","quotes":["An accessory home occupation use is permitted in all zones permitting a residential use,","no home occupation shall be permitted which involves clients directly","to a home office only."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"licence":{"label":"Business licence","value":"Yes. Every home occupation needs a valid business licence, and none is issued without the owner's written consent. Fees are set by business type in Schedule A of the Business Licence Bylaw; a business not named in any group pays $150 plus $25 per employee. No home-occupation fee is named.","short":"Yes: by business type; unlisted $150 plus $25 per employee","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/8003/Zoning-Bylaw-2024-No-2506-Adopted-June-27-2024","title":"Zoning Bylaw 2024, No. 2506 (PDF, section 5.3), City of White Rock","section":"s. 5.3.1(10)-(11)","quotes":["all home occupation uses will be required to possess a valid business license;","written consent by the Owner or the Owner"]},{"url":"https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/272/Consolidated---Business-License-Bylaw-1997-Number-1510-PDF","title":"Business Licence Bylaw 1997, No. 1510 (PDF, consolidated April 2020), City of White Rock","section":"Sch. A, Group 5","quotes":["The fee for each licence period shall be: $150.00 plus $25.00 for each employee."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"limits":{"label":"Limits","value":"Fully inside the home and no more than 40% of the residential floor area. One non-illuminated sign under the Sign Bylaw. No outdoor storage or display. Only residents plus at most one resident or non-resident employee. Parking on site, with no more than one extra space. No noise, dust, odours or extra traffic beyond a normal home.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/8003/Zoning-Bylaw-2024-No-2506-Adopted-June-27-2024","title":"Zoning Bylaw 2024, No. 2506 (PDF, section 5.3), City of White Rock","section":"s. 5.3.1","quotes":["shall not occupy more than 40% of the residential gross","there shall be no exterior storage or display of goods or materials;","one non-illuminated sign in","and not more than one resident or non-resident employee;","No more than one additional off-street","vehicular traffic other than that normally associated with a residential dwelling;"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"not_allowed":{"label":"Businesses not allowed","value":"No wholesale or retail sale of goods or materials from the dwelling. No assembly uses, and nothing that generates noise, vibration, dust, odours, vapours, heat, on-street parking or traffic beyond a normal home. Client visits are barred in the zones and lots noted above.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/8003/Zoning-Bylaw-2024-No-2506-Adopted-June-27-2024","title":"Zoning Bylaw 2024, No. 2506 (PDF, section 5.3), City of White Rock","section":"s. 5.3.1","quotes":["the wholesale or retail sale of any goods or materials from the dwelling unit is not","permitted;","used for any assembly related uses or occupancies, or for any"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"White Rock Zoning Bylaw, 2024, No. 2506 (s. 5.3); Business Licence Bylaw, 1997, No. 1510","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/8003/Zoning-Bylaw-2024-No-2506-Adopted-June-27-2024","title":"Zoning Bylaw 2024, No. 2506 (PDF, section 5.3), City of White Rock","section":"Title","quotes":["WHITE ROCK ZONING BYLAW, 2024, No. 2506"]},{"url":"https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/272/Consolidated---Business-License-Bylaw-1997-Number-1510-PDF","title":"Business Licence Bylaw 1997, No. 1510 (PDF, consolidated April 2020), City of White Rock","section":"Title","quotes":["White Rock Business Licence By-law, 1997, No. 1510"]}],"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\n[Zoning Bylaw 2506](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/8003/Zoning-Bylaw-2024-No-2506-Adopted-June-27-2024) (section 5.3) permits an accessory home occupation in all zones that allow a residential use. Every home occupation needs a valid business licence under [Business Licence Bylaw 1510](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/272/Consolidated---Business-License-Bylaw-1997-Number-1510-PDF), and none is issued without the owner's written consent.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Check your plan against section 5.3 (see below).\n2. If you rent, get the owner's written consent.\n3. Apply for a business licence through MyWhiteRock, or call 604-541-2139.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- The business must be fully inside the home and use no more than 40% of the residential floor area.\n- One non-illuminated sign under the Sign Bylaw. No outdoor storage or display.\n- Only residents plus at most one resident or non-resident employee.\n- Parking must be on site, with no more than one extra space, additional to the home's required parking.\n- No wholesale or retail sale of goods or materials from the dwelling, no assembly uses, and nothing that creates noise, vibration, dust, odours, vapours, heat, on-street parking or traffic beyond a normal home. The bylaw does not list banned business types by name.\n- In multi-unit and mixed commercial/residential zones, and on SSMUH lots with a bed and breakfast or short-term rental, no clients may come to the building. Where an SSMUH lot has more than 2 units including a suite or detached unit, only a home office is allowed.\n- A ticket for failing to comply with the home occupation requirements is $500, then $1,000, then $2,000 for a third and later offence (Ticketing for Bylaw Offences Bylaw 1929).","sources":[{"url":"https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/8003/Zoning-Bylaw-2024-No-2506-Adopted-June-27-2024","title":"Zoning Bylaw 2024, No. 2506 (PDF, section 5.3), City of White Rock","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/272/Consolidated---Business-License-Bylaw-1997-Number-1510-PDF","title":"Business Licence Bylaw 1997, No. 1510 (PDF, consolidated April 2020), City of White Rock","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/2072/Consolidated---Ticketing-for-Bylaw-Offences-2011-No-1929-PDF","title":"Ticketing for Bylaw Offences Bylaw 1929 (PDF, consolidated November 2024), City of White Rock","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.whiterockcity.ca/901/Business-Licences-Permits","title":"Business Licences and Permits, City of White Rock","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/white-rock/home-based-business/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/white-rock/home-based-business.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/white-rock/home-based-business.json"}}