Starting, running a home business now easier in town

By Sean Feagan, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Operating a home business is now an option for more town residents, after Strathmore town council modified the town’s land use bylaw to allow home occupations in high-density residential districts.

Previously, home occupations were allowed as a discretionary use (meaning they require approval from the town’s development department) in small- and medium-density residential districts only. This meant residents of high-density residential (R3) districts, which include apartment buildings, could not apply to operate a home business.

Strathmore town Councillor Jason Montgomery was contacted by a resident in January, who wanted to start a minor aesthetics service, but could not get approval from the town because they live in an R3-zoned residence. In response, Montgomery led a motion for the town to draft an amendment to the land use bylaw to include home occupations as discretionary use in R3 districts, which town council passed unanimously.

All home occupations will still need to be approved by the town’s development department. As such, the change will allow the town to be more “surgical” on its approach to approval or disapproval of business permits, rather than a “one-size-fits-all, blanket approach,” said Montgomery.

“I think that this will improve the economy of Strathmore, as more people will be able to initiate a business or service, without the high overhead and startup costs related to leasing commercial space,” he said. “As we move increasingly towards business models that are operating remotely and often digitally-based, we need to be adapting with those changes as a government organization.”