Home Based Business

If you are looking at opening a home-based business, there are specific requirements within the Zoning Bylaw. The following is information excerpt from the Bylaw for your easy reference.

EXCERPT FROM CITY OF CAMPBELL RIVER ZONING BYLAW NO. 3250

4.9 Home-based business

Bylaw 3346, 2008 –Replace first sentence–June 24/08

A home business is permitted in all zones permitting a residential use, but only in accordance with the following provisions:

Bylaw 3399, 2009 –Amds (a) – Mar16/10

1. With the exception of the commercial production and sale of fruits, vegetables or plants that the activity shall be confined to the interior of the principal dwelling.

2. The activity shall be clearly subservient and incidental to the use of the dwelling for residential purposes, and to the residential use of the lot on which the dwelling is located, and for certainty a home occupation is only permitted where ancillary to a permitted residential use, but not where ancillary to a permitted non-residential use.

3. No alteration may be made to the external appearance of the property which indicates that a home occupation is being conducted on the premises, except for one single or two-sided un-illuminated sign not larger than 0.4 square metre (4.3 square feet).

4. There shall be no noise, vibration, dust, smoke, odour, heat, or traffic generation other than that normally associated with a dwelling.

5. There shall be no external storage or outdoor display of materials, equipment, or finished products.

6. There shall be no retail sales or commodities offered for sale, except for catalogue sales, or those products or commodities produced on the premises.

7. Not more than 40% of the gross floor area of the residential dwelling shall be used for the home occupation use, up to a total maximum area of 80 square metres (861 square feet).

8. Not more than one person who is not a resident of the dwelling to which the home occupation is ancillary shall be employed in the activity.

9. The salvage, repair, maintenance or sale of motor vehicles or motor vehicle engines or sale of parts shall not be permitted as a home-based business, except on lots in the rural zones with a minimum lot area of 1 hectare.

10. A home-based business is permitted in an ancillary building only in the rural zones. In such zones, on lots with less than one hectare lot area, the maximum size of an ancillary building used for a home-based business is 42 square metres, and on lots one hectare or larger, the maximum size of an ancillary building used for a home-based business is 80 square metres. In rural zones where a home-based business is contained within both the principal residence and the ancillary building, the sum total of the gross floor area must not exceed 80 square metres on a lot less than one hectare and must not exceed 100 square metres on a lot over 1 hectare.

11. Community Care Facilities, including day care centres, not exceeding ten (10) children up to the age of 13 years at any one time, and not exceeding eight (8) adults, with one non-resident employee are permitted.

4.10 Bed and Breakfast Accommodations

Bed and breakfast accommodations will only be permitted in accordance with the following provisions:

1. The activity shall be confined to the interior of the principal dwelling, and is only permitted where ancillary to a permitted residential use, but not where ancillary to a permitted non-residential use.

2. The principle dwelling unit shall be occupied by the owner or operator of the bed and breakfast establishment.

3. No more than two sleeping units to accommodate a maximum of four adult bed and breakfast guests shall be permitted in a principle dwelling unit.

4. No alterations may be made to the external appearance of the property which indicates that a bed and breakfast establishment is being conducted on the premises, except for one (single or two-sided) un-illuminated sign not larger than 0.4 square metre (4.3 square feet).

4.21 Off Street Parking Requirements

Bylaw 3399, 2009 –Amds (e) – Mar16/10

1. For each dwelling unit on a lot less than 1 hectare in a residential or mobile home zone, only the following may be parked or stored:
   1. Automobiles registered for personal use by residents on the property.
   2. One licensed commercial vehicle no larger than 3,600 kg rated capacity.