Guide to Home-Based Businesses
Home-based businesses may include professional services, craft businesses, such as pottery or stained-glass production, or instructional services. Examples of home-based businesses include: sewing or alterations; home decorating; holistic, health or wellness services; hairstyling; trades such as plumbers or electricians; artists; private teaching; home day care; and pet grooming.
The following are not permitted as home-based businesses: event venues; eating establishments; any facility offering accommodation or meals that is not a licensed B&B or short-term accommodation; retail shopping; or any motor vehicle facility, including a motor vehicle body shop, dealership, fuel bar, service station, garage or motor vehicle wash establishment.
Please note that homes being rented as short-term accommodations require a licence to operate. More details and an application form can be found on TheCounty.ca.
Zoning
Home-based businesses may be permitted in certain urban and rural zones where residential dwellings are permitted. It’s important to remember that home-based businesses are not meant to change the nature of the home or neighbourhood, are limited in the types of businesses permitted, and may take up only one-quarter of the dwelling’s floor space. It’s important to familiarize yourself with the Comprehensive Zoning By-Law.
Fire Safety
Home-based businesses are subject to Ontario’s Fire Code. Please familiarize yourself with requirements, including those around carbon monoxide alarms, the safe storage of flammable and combustible liquids, testing and logging of smoke detector and CO2 alarms, and ventilation and fire protection requirements for commercial cooking. Reach out to fire@pecounty.on.ca or 613.476.2345 with any questions.
Rural Home-Based
Outside towns and hamlets areas, rural home-based businesses may include artists, farm-related sales, farm machine and equipment repairs, welding, carpentry, electrical or plumbing contractor’s shop, small engine repair and auto repairs. Those considering an auto repair shop, please see the Comprehensive Zoning By-Law for further information.
An accessory building, such as a garage or shed, intended to be used for a rural home business must be set back from all lot lines a minimum of 7.6 m (25 ft.) and cannot exceed 112 square metres in size. A minimum lot area of 2 ha (5 acres) is required for a rural home business. Some open storage is permitted.
Work Spaces
Home-based businesses should blend into the neighbourhood. The operation and appearance of the business should not create a nuisance or detract from the appearance or experience of the neighbourhood. An urban home-based business may use up to 25% of gross floor space for their operations, including any area used for the storage of materials and equipment. A home business may occupy up to 38 sq. m. (400 sq ft.) of a detached accessory building, such as a garage or shed.
Signage
Home-based businesses may erect a small sign measuring up to 1mx1m in urban areas and up to 2mx2m in rural areas.
Renovations or Additions
If you wish to renovate or build a garage or shed-type structure in order to accommodate your home-based business, building permits will likely be required. Contact building@pecounty.on.ca or 613.476.2148. ext. 2040. to confirm if any permits or inspections are required.
Employees
Home-based businesses are limited to one non-resident employee.
Parking
To speak with a Planning professional about your plans, please fill in the Development Inquiry Form with as much detail as possible to help place your file with the appropriate staff member.
Food Preparation
If your business includes preparing and selling food to retailers or to markets other than a farmers’ market, you must prepare the food in a kitchen inspected by a licenced public health inspector. For more information about food preparation and commercial kitchen requirements, contact Hastings Prince Edward Public Health at 1-800-267-2803 ext. 677.
On-Farm Diversification
On lands zoned as “Prime Agriculture,” on-farm diversification is permitted, so long as farming remains the primary activity of the land and the diversified activities are limited to less than 2% of acreage, can be supported by rural infrastructure, and provide direct products and/or services to farm operations.
Examples include value-added activities such as a cheese factory, bakery or abattoir; home industries such as a woodworking shop, equipment repair or seasonal storage; agritourism including bed and breakfast, hay rides, petting zoo, horse trail rides, corn maze, wine tastings, retreats or zip lines; retail such as a farm market, antique business, seed supplier or tack shop, or a café/small restaurant, cooking classes or food store.
For more information about on farm diversified uses, download the Permitted Uses Guidelines from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs.
Anyone looking to diversify their farm operation is encouraged to have a discussion with Planning staff. Complete a Development Inquiry Form to be connected to the appropriate Planning staff.