Starting a Business

Are you planning to start a home based business, have a hair dressing/personal grooming operation in your home or maybe you are a tradesperson proposing to operate from your property? If you answered yes then you should contact Development Services - Planning staff to obtain a copy of the relevant policies and discuss how to apply for a Certificate of Occupancy in order to ensure your proposed business will conform to the zoning requirements.

The regulations to establish a Home Occupation can be found in Section 6.18 - General Regulations of the Zoning By-law. Below are a few highlights of these regulations.

Home Occupation / Home Based Business

• Is for the occupant of a single detached dwelling, shall be located within the dwelling unit or a permitted accessory building and shall be for the exclusive use of the occupants of the single detached dwelling only.
• There shall be no employees operating in or from the premises at any time.
• Is limited to no more than thirty-five (35) square metres within the single detached dwelling or permitted accessory building.
• Is not permitted to have retail sales, wholesale merchandising or a repair service as part of the business.

Proposed Teaching Operation / Clinics

• Teaching operations shall be limited to no more than four (4) students at one time.
• Clinics (massage, chiropractic, aesthetics) shall be limited to a maximum of one patient being treated at a time, for properties within a Residential zone.

Hairdressing/Personal Grooming Operation

• Is contained entirely within the maximum 35 square metre floor area.
• May have a small display area of not more than 1.5 square metres to retail accessory products directly related to the hairdressing/personal grooming operation occurring on the property.
• Shall provide a minimum of two (2) parking spaces on the property in addition to the parking space required for the Residential Building – One Unit. Parking required for the hairdresser/personal grooming operation may be located ahead of the building line setback and may be stacked with only other parking required for the Residential Building – One Unit (i.e. shall not be stacked with any required parking related to the hairdresser/personal grooming operation), provided that such stacking shall not encroach beyond the lot line.

Home Business - Tradesperson

May be permitted within a single detached dwelling and/or a permitted accessory building on Agricultural (A) zoned properties up to 6 hectares in area and is limited to:

• individuals employed in the building trades, including bricklayers and stonemasons; carpenters and joiners; electricians; lathers; painters; decorators and paper-hangers; plasterers; plumbers and steamfitters; sheet metal workers; general contractors; landscapers; flooring and carpet layers or home decorators or other similar trades which provide an installation service but do not include the wholesale or retail sale of construction materials or supplies, home improvement supplies or a personal service shop, contractors yard or retail store as defined herein;
• a wood working shop (fabricating which involves wood, such as furniture making and wood bending, but not including pallet making); or
• blacksmithing.

 Agricultural, Industrial and / or Commercial zoned lands

Certificates of Occupancy are also required for businesses operating from Agricultural zoned properties (i.e. farm produce stands, greenhouses, on-farm businesses) and all Industrial and Commercial operations within the Township.

Contact Development Services - Planning staff for further details or to answer any questions you may have to ensure that your proposed business will operate within the parameters of the applicable zone.