Spike in home business prompts rule review

By COLLIN GALLANT on March 26, 2021.

cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant

New rules for home-based businesses and home offices could be on the way next month during an update to the land-use bylaw.

Those situations have skyrocketed in number during the pandemic, and on Wednesday city planning officials told the municipal planning commission they have turned their attention to studying the issue.

More people are working from home as part of regular employment and more people are starting home businesses, either as a main source of income or side line, said senior planner Jim Genge.

Such businesses, however, can create conflict between neighbours depending on the nature of the work or the number of customers, clients and employees visiting a residential address.

“Right now there’s no limit, but convention and practice,” said senior planner Jim Genge. “That practice has been challenged during the pandemic, but it’s really discretionary (at present).”

Potential limits on visitors, or graduated fees and restrictions could be proposed when scheduled amendments to the land-use bylaw are presented in April.

Currently the Medicine Hat Chamber of Commerce and other business groups are preparing position statements and talking to their members about the issue, said Genge.

“It’s an important issue because it’s a changing pattern,” said MPC chair, Coun. Brian Varga. “Every business will be interested to see what those numbers are.”

Home business, also known as “home occupation,” permits are required for those who set up business operations in their home. Such applications are advertised so neighbours may object, and typical concerns revolve around parking and the number of customers or employees coming and going.

Currently applications are grouped in two categories: Minor applications for those who expect no visitors; and Major, for all others.

Many are office-only, or comprise operations internally within a home, consulting, or as mailing addresses.

They can range to sales, personal services, or storage for construction materials.

The land-use bylaw also spells out which occupations are not suitable for residential locations, like industrial operations related to metal or woodworking, vehicle repair, escort services, cannabis production and all walk-up retail sales.

The city is also studying larger issues ahead of fall updates as part of a semi-annual review of the land-use bylaw. The planning department will fold in new items for the city centre after public consultation next summer about the proposed “Waterfront district” plan for downtown.

The office is also studying the issues related to a conglomeration of social services in centre areas of the city. That issue was highlighted in a subdivision and appeal board ruling last month regarding a daytime shelter that was temporarily set up on Third Street downtown.

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