Home-Based Businesses
The City of Edmonton’s Business Licence Bylaw outlines the following category and regulations for businesses that are based in a home.
Home-Based Business
This category is described as "any business conducted out of a residential premises."
There are no special business licence regulations for this category, other than the need for a licence. However, this business does have special regulations under Edmonton's Zoning Bylaw.
Zoning Bylaw regulations for your business depend on whether you are a Major or Minor Home-Based Business, which is determined when you apply for your development permit (see Getting a Business Licence for more information).
The zoning of your property dictates whether a Major or Minor Home-Based Business is permitted in your home.
Major Home-Based Business Zoning Bylaw Regulations:
Major Home-Based Businesses are those businesses that are visible and may involve the customer coming to the home or some other use of the property that is not typical of a residential area. Major home occupations will allow more business visits and also allow you to have employees.
Typical businesses are hair dressers or lawn maintenance companies.
The following regulations apply:
- There can be more than one visit to your home each day because of your business.
- Your business can not have an exterior display or advertisement other than an identification plaque or sign that is a maximum of 20 centimetres by 30.5 centimetres in size.
- You can not use mechanical or electrical equipment that creates external noise, or visible and audible interference with the home electronics of your neighbours.
- Your business must not generate pedestrian traffic, vehicular traffic, or parking in excess of that which is normal for your neighbourhood's zone.
- There can only be two non-resident employees or business partners working on-site any one time.
- No outdoor business activity, or outdoor storage of material or equipment associated with the business is allowed.
- Your business can not change the principal character or external appearance of the residential property.
- This type of business can not be located in homes that have a secondary suite.
Minor Home-Based Business Zoning Bylaw Regulations:
Minor Home-Based Businesses are those that are considered to have no impact on the neighbours and are basically invisible.
Typical businesses would be consultants, computer programmers and other service-oriented businesses where the proprietor goes to the customer rather than the customer coming to the home.
The following regulations apply:
- There cannot be more than one visit to your home each day because of your business.
- Your business cannot have an exterior display or advertisement other than an identification plaque or sign that is a maximum of 10 centimetres by 30.5 centimetres in size.
- You cannot use mechanical or electrical equipment that creates external noise, or visible and audible interference with your neighbour’s home electronics.
- There cannot be any non-resident employees or business partners working on-site at any time.
- No outdoor business activity, or outdoor storage of material or equipment associated with the business is allowed.
- Your business cannot change the principal character or external appearance of the residential property.
For More Information
Permits and Licensing Service Centre
Sustainable Development
5th floor, 10250 - 101 Street
Edmonton, AB T5J 3P4
Hours of Operation:
Monday to Friday
8am to 4:30pm
| Telephone |
In Edmonton: 311 Outside Edmonton: 780-442-5311 |
|---|---|
| Fax | 780-496-6054 |
