Home-based business

Notwithstanding any other provisions contained in the City of Peterborough Zoning By-law, home-based business shall be permitted under section 6.23 of the Zoning By-law, subject to the following:

a) no person who is not a resident of the dwelling unit shall be engaged in a home-based business; 

b) except as provided in paragraph (c) there shall be no display of goods, exterior storage, or any other external evidence (including noise, glare or odor) associated with a home-based business;

c) signage shall be permitted to identify a home-based business provided that such signage is non-luminous, is attached to the dwelling unit or any associated accessory buildings, and that the total sign area of such signage for all homebased businesses within the dwelling unit does not exceed 0.2 square metres;

d) the total building floor area of all home-based businesses within a dwelling unit and any associated accessory buildings shall not exceed 46 square metres of which not more than 28 square metres may be located within accessory buildings;

e) retail sales, excepting customer ordered sales, shall be limited to those goods or articles which are produced within the dwelling unit or any associated accessory buildings;

f) any home-based business involving instructional activity shall be limited to a maximum of five (5) students at any one time;

g) the following shall not be permitted as a home-based business: 

i) a restaurant 

ii) a home daycare which is required to be licensed pursuant to the Day Nurseries Act 

iii) an office of a veterinarian

iv) a taxi service

v) a public garage 

vi) a dog boarding kennel 

vii) a commercial dog kennel 

viii) a salvage yard

A business licence may be required for your home-based business. Visit the Business Licences and Permits page or reach out to the Clerks Office for business licencing related inquiries.

For zoning regulation inquiries, please contact the Building Services Division:

Phone: 705-742-7777 ext. 1892#
Toll Free: 1-855-738-3755
Email: building@peterborough.ca