What is a Home-Based Business?
Home-based businesses are small-scale businesses that operate out of a person's home. Usually a portion of the home is set aside for an office or studio.
Short-term rental units such as, but not limited to, AirBnB and VRBO are not permitted anywhere in Pitt Meadows. Bed and breakfast operations are permitted, but must comply with the regulations outlined in section 5.6 of the Zoning Bylaw No. 2505, 2011.
Home-Based Business Regulations
The City of Pitt Meadows local land use regulations and the Provincial Land Agricultural Commission's land use regulations support the establishment of appropriate home-based businesses in residential and agricultural zones.
Many types of home-based businesses are permitted in Pitt Meadows. Every home-based business shall comply with the requirements of Zoning Bylaw No. 2505 Sec 5.3 and must obtain a valid business licence.
There are three categories of home-based businesses, Minor, Major, and Rural, and the following regulations apply:
Category | Minor | Major | Rural |
|---|---|---|---|
Type of dwelling unit, building, or zone | Secondary suite, garden suite, apartment, townhouse, mobile home, single-family dwelling, duplex, rural residential, agricultural | Single-family dwelling, duplex, rural residential, agricultural | Rural residential, agricultural |
Minimum lot area | n/a | 350 sq m | 8,093 sq m |
Location of home-based business | Within the principal or accessory dwelling unit | Within the principal dwelling unit or one accessory building | |
Deliveries and loading | Must be accommodated on the lot | ||
Maximum number of clients/visitors | None permitted | Two at any given time | |
Exterior storage, exterior manufacturing, and/or exterior conducting of business | Not permitted. All exterior doors, including garage doors, must remain closed while the home-based business is being operated | ||
Employee restrictions | Only principal residents of the dwelling unit are permitted as an employee of the home-based business | One person other than principal residents of the dwelling unit is permitted as an employee of the home-based business | Two people other than principal residents of the dwelling unit are permitted as employees of the home-based business |
Display | No stock in trade is permitted for display, except for articles produced on site | ||
Maximum Gross Floor Area | 20% of the dwelling unit up to 50 m² | 100 m² | |
Vehicles and parking
| In addition to the off-street parking requirements in Table 7.1, any vehicle used by the home-based business must be parked on the lot associated with the home-based business, to a maximum of four per lot; one of which is permitted as a commercial vehicle with a maximum weight of 4,600 kg. | ||
Prohibited uses | Child-care program, dog-grooming, Section 5.3.2 below | Section 5.3.2 below | Section 5.3.2 below |
Child-care program | Not permitted | Permitted if outdoor play area provided. Exempt from maximum gross floor area limit. | |
Hours of operation | 7am to 9pm | ||
For further information on home-based business regulations or licensing requirements, please email licensing@pittmeadows.ca or call 604.465.2428.