Are home businesses going to be banned in Toronto?
Kristin W. says in the Small Business Canada Forum that the City of Toronto's new zoning by-law project is proposing that no business be allowed to operate out of a home "as of right" which means that someone could apply for a variance to have a home business, but then there would have to be a community consultation to see if the neighbours would allow it.
"And really why would they?" Kristin says. "The city still hasn't addressed the problem of noise/parking, etc. So why would the neighbours want it set in writing that a person could operate a business. Maybe the business is not a problem at the time of application but how are they to know it wouldn't grow?"
I think Kristin raises a good point and is right to be worried, because I think a lot of people would just be too worried about potential future problems with a home business in their neighbourhood to green light one if they were asked, no matter how innocuous and unobtrusive that business might be at the time.
But what do you think? Do you agree with Kristin that "people should have a right to operate a home business and the odd trouble maker who is disturbing the peace should be dealt with by targeting the specific problem behaviour not by passing sweeping by-laws?"
Or do you feel that people have the right to live in purely residential neighbourhoods or at least to have some say about whether or not a business should be allowed to operate where they live?
More on Operating a Home Business
- Before You Start a Home-Based Business - factors you need to consider before you turn your home into a business, including the suitability of your neighbourhood and house, and how well your family and personality suit a home-based business.
- Home Business Insurance - because your basic home insurance won't cover it.
- 6 Home Based Business Tax Deductions You Don't Want to Miss - special benefits that only apply to home businesses.
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I run a business from my home and I live in Toronto and this is the most ridiculous thing that I have ever heard. Maybe the city should focus on figuring out how they should stay inb business instead of continually finding ways to drive business out of Toronto and thus reducing its tax base. The mayor is too busy staying downtown and supporting those that live in condos located downtown.