Home-based businesses

Operating a home-based business

Specific types of home-based businesses are permitted in the City of Vaughan, including:

• art studios
• business services, provided that no retail is permitted
• clinics
• child care/daycare
• food preparation and catering businesses, provided that no retail is permitted
• personal services, such as hairdressing, barbering, micropigmentation, tattoo, laser hair removal, body and ear piercing and tanning
• administrative offices

• instruction, education or tutoring including personal fitness, music, dance, math/science/language tutoring or instruction, cooking and other similar activities
   

   

Licence and zoning requirements

Some types of businesses also require a municipal business licence. Find out if your business requires a licence.

There may be additional zoning restrictions for a home-based business that are specific to a certain address. Find out more about zoning requirements. 
 

Public Health Requirements

York Region may have inspection requirements for certain types of home-based businesses, including personal services, clinics and food-related businesses. Contact York Region for more information about health requirements.

Home daycare businesses

Home daycares are regulated by the Province of Ontario. Find out more about opening a home daycare in Ontario.

Catering and food-related businesses

Retail food-related businesses are not permitted, meaning customers cannot shop for catered or food products in someone's home. Retail food sales may require an Eating Establishment or Food Stuff business licence, and may not be permitted at a residential property. 

Operators of a home-based, food-related business must contact York Region Public Health prior to opening. Find out more about York Region's health requirements for Food Premises Operators.
 

Hair, aesthetics, tattooing and other personal services businesses

A City of Vaughan personal service licence is required for businesses offering the following:

• Hair dressing and barbering
• Nail services
• Shoe shine services
• Tattooing, including micropigmentation 
• Tanning
• Body and ear piercing 
• Laser hair removal, including electrolysis 
• Other non-medical aesthetic services, such as facials and body treatments (excluding registered massage therapy)
   

Fitness, music and dance businesses