Can I run a business from my home in Ontario?

Running a business from home in Ontario: the local rules

Running a business from home in Ontario

Ontario limits a home business to 1 room and 10 percent of the dwelling's floor area, and 1 client or customer at a time. Not allowed: barber and beauty shops, medical and dental offices, vehicle repair, gun or ammunition sales, welding and carpentry.

What Ontario's code says

Ontario code What Ontario's code adds
Space used	The business must stay within 1 room of the home. Applies: Inside the home; exceptions for outdoor flower growing, AR-2 kennels and catteries, and storage or work space in permitted accessory structures. § 5.03.240 · code text The Home Occupation shall be conducted within an enclosed structure, completely confined to one room of the dwelling No more than 10% of the home's gross floor area. Applies: Inside the home; exceptions for outdoor flower growing, AR-2 kennels and catteries, and storage or work space in permitted accessory structures. § 5.03.240 · code text occupying no more than 10 percent of the GFA of the dwelling No more than 10% of the net lot area. Applies: Outdoor flower growing with a single-family home in the right zone; all activity in the rear half of the lot. § 5.03.240 · code text All activities shall take place within the rear one-half of the lot and occupy no more than 10 percent of the net lot area.
Customer visits	No more than 1 client or customer at any one time. § 5.03.240 · code text Not more than one client/customer shall visit the premises at any one time, No more than 3 students at any one time. Applies: In-home teaching, such as music lessons, academic tutoring or religious instruction. § 5.03.240 · code text provided no more than 3 students are present at any one time
Employees	Only the people who live in the home can work in the business. § 5.03.240 · code text Only the occupants of the dwelling may engage in the Home Occupation.
Permit	A valid city business license is required. § 5.03.240 · code text No person shall engage in a Home Occupation unless such person holds a valid business license issued by the City.
Businesses not allowed	Gun/munitions repair or sales; ammunition loading or sales; barber and beauty shops; harboring, training, breeding, raising or grooming of cats, dogs or other animals on the premises (except as permitted in the AR-2 zoning district); carpentry and cabinet making; medical and dental offices or clinics; repair or fix-it shops; storage of equipment, materials and other accessories to the construction or service trades; motor vehicle repair (body or mechanical), upholstery or painting; welding or machining; on-site sales of motor vehicles; massage services, excepting out-call services; any other use the Zoning Administrator finds not incidental to or compatible with residential activities § 5.03.240 · code text The following list represents example uses that are not considered to be incidental to and/or compatible with residential activities, and for which a Home Occupation permit shall not be issued:

Running a business from home in Ontario

Key points

What Ontario's code says

Who this affects

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