Zoning Regulations for Based Business

January 2018

Zoning Bylaw residential land use, nor shall the erection of any , Definitions 6680, Section structure, fence enclosure or portion thereof, other than A Home Based Business 190.28 those in conformity to the means an accessory use to an permitted residential uses of authorised residential use in Every home based business the zoning district allowed; which one or more residents shall comply with the carry on a business, and for following requirements: e) the residential space and greater certainty, includes a accessory building area on a bed and breakfast, but does a) the home based business shall site, including any detached not include child care. clearly be an accessory use to accessory , occupied the residential use; or used for any home based A Bed and Breakfast is a business shall not exceed home based business that b) no more than one non-resi- 500 square feet (46.45 square provides temporary sleeping dent person may be engaged metres) in total; accommodations on not less in one or more home based than a daily basis, including businesses at the home. In f) no home based business shall the provision of a daily the case of a containing have unenclosed or exterior breakfast. a secondary suite where both storage or display of goods, dwelling units in the house materials, components, contain one or more home stock-in-trade, equipment or containing a secondary suite based businesses, only one of finished goods; and both dwelling units in the the two dwelling units may house contain one or more have a non-residential person g) the operation of any home home based businesses, no who is engaged in the home based business shall not result more than one Off-Street and based business at the home; in or cause more business-re- one on-street parking space lated vehicle or pedestrian may be occupied at one time c) a home based business shall trips per day to or from the by any vehicle associated with not generate any noise, vibra- home than is normal for the the home based businesses on tion, smoke, dust, odours, residential area; the site; toxins, heat, glare, radiation, fire hazard, health hazard or h) not more than one Off-Street i) the parking of all vehicles similar disturbance; and one on-street parking associated with any home space may be occupied within based business shall be in d) no exterior alteration to the a dwelling unit at one time accordance with all City of appearance of the structure(s) by vehicles associated with New Westminster parking on the site may be made to one or more home based regulations; indicate that the site contains businesses within a dwelling anything other than a unit. In the case of a house

This guide does not replace official documents and the City disclaims any liability from its use. j) every operator of a home beyond the usual for a resi- i) may not accommodate based business must first dential district; no more than four guests receive permission from the except that one additional landlord or strata corporation m) a home based business guest for every 500 square in order to operate a home shall not have any external feet (46.45 square metres) of based business; displays, advertisements or floor space in the dwelling signage, except for one non-il- unit over 2,000 square feet k) no home based business shall luminated identification sign (185.80 square metres) is involve the sale of goods or not to exceed 2.2 square feet permitted, to a maximum products where customers (0.2 square metres) indicating of 10 guests; regularly enter the home the name of the business; to inspect, purchase or take ii) may occupy one off-Street possession of the goods or n) a home based business shall parking or one on-street products, except in the case not involve: parking per bed and break- of the RM-6, C-2A, C-4 and fast , provided C-4A districts, where the retail i) adult entertainment uses, that not more than two sale of goods is permitted by adult motion picture spaces per every three bed a home based business oper- , adult theatres, and breakfast ated within a dwelling unit adult video stores or escort are occupied; located on the street level services, of a building, or portion of a iii) in the case where a house building; ii) automotive repair at the contains a secondary suite, location of the home, may be operated in either l) a home based business shall the principal residence or involve only such equipment iii) a home based business the secondary suite, but not as is ordinarily employed in shall not include any both; and, purely domestic use, house- on-site storage of construc- hold use, recreational hobbies tion materials, hazardous iv) is not permitted to operate or small office uses, and shall chemicals or explosives; within a detached accessory not require upgrading, elec- and dwelling unit or any other trical or systems detached accessory building. o) a bed and breakfast

Planning Division 604-527-4532

Page 2 Home Based ii) When the Registered Electrical Contractor has Businesses in completed the breaker with removal work, he or she will provide the property owner Secondary Suites with a copy of an Electrical Contractor Authorization a) Home based businesses are form certifying that the allowed in authorized/legally electrical work has been created secondary suites. done in compliance with the British Columbia Electrical b) Home based businesses are Safety Act, Electrical Safety not allowed in unauthorized e) In the case where a house Regulations and Electrical pre-existing (before July contains a secondary suite Code. 1998) secondary suites that and the owner wishes to are occupied as separate and operate a Bed and Breakfast iii) The property owner must independent units. in the suite area (i.e. and not then arrange for an inspec- rent the suite as a self-con- tion of the suite area by c) Home based businesses are tained dwelling unit, in which the Secondary Suites allowed in unauthorized the occupants cook their own Coordinator. Following the pre-existing (before July 1998) food): inspection the owner will secondary suites if the suite is be asked to sign a Statutory subject to a Statutory Declara- i) The owners must have Declaration stating that the tion stating that the suite is a registered electrical suite will not be occupied as not occupied as a separate and contractor (not just a a separate and independent independent unit. licenced electrician) tempo- dwelling unit. Should the rarily remove the circuit owner wish to discontinue d) A Bed and Breakfast may breaker for the suite’s 220 the B & B operation and be operated in a house that V stove plug, so as to ensure resume renting of the contains a secondary suite, that no B & B clients utilize self-contained suite, he or in either the suite or the prin- the cooking facility (the she must notify the City of cipal unit, but not both. stove and stove plug may this change, in writing. be left in place if the owner wishes).

Planning Division 604-527-4532

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