For a listing of all by-laws in the City of Winnipeg, visit the searchable list at www.winnipeg.ca.

In the City of Winnipeg, all home business occupations require a home occupation permit and a business license, and certain home occupations also require a regulatory license. The fees for these licenses and permits may be tax deductible.

• Home Occupation Permit: All home businesses require a home occupation permit. Currently, the one-time fee is $111.87. To obtain a home occupation permit, contact the City of Winnipeg Zoning and Permits Branch, 18 - 30 Fort Street, or call (204) 986-4663.
• Business License no longer required: as of January 1, 2008.
• Regulatory License: Approximately 80 home occupations may also require a regulatory license. Examples of regulated home businesses include hairdressing, psychic reader and hobby breeder. The cost of the regulatory licenses vary. A listing of occupations requiring a regulatory license can be obtained at the City of Winnipeg License Branch, 18 - 30 Fort Street. For more information on regulatory licensing and associated costs, phone (204) 986-6420.
• Transient Trader License: If you want to sell your products at a kiosk or table in a mall, you need a Transient Trader License. To obtain a license, contact the City of Winnipeg License Branch, 18 - 30 Fort Street, or call (204) 986-4663.

You should also be aware that the City of Winnipeg zoning by-laws do not allow home-based businesses to have employees, other than family members residing in the home. The home office is for the business owner and resident family members only; you are not permitted to provide work space in your home for other employees.
 

Check with your local municipal office as to what licenses and/or permits they require. If you are unsure which municipal office to contact, visit the Province of Manitoba's Community Profiles page to find the office near you.

If you are a cottage owner and are operating a business from your cottage, you should apply to Manitoba Conservation.

Note that you may also require a license or permit to conduct business in Winnipeg even if you are a non-resident. For example, if your home business is physically located in Portage la Prairie but you regularly commute to Winnipeg to conduct your business, you will require a business license from the City of Winnipeg.

• Direct Sellers License: This is for companies and individuals involved in direct selling to the public, telemarketing, or renting a table or booth space at malls, fairs and exhibitions to sell goods. To obtain the licence, contact Manitoba Consumer and Corporate Affairs.
• Other Provincial Licenses: The Province of Manitoba regulates many industries and some home businesses may also need to apply for provincial licenses or permits. For example, home daycare operators must be licensed by Manitoba Family Services and Housing. For more information or to find out if your business requires a license from the Province of Manitoba, contact the Canada/Manitoba Business Service Centre at 984-2272 (in Winnipeg) or 1-800-665-2019 (toll-free in Canada) or send an e-mail to Manitoba@CanadaBusiness.ca.

 
Manitoba Home Business Advisory Council Inc. ('MHBAC') is a non-share, not-for-profit corporation created with the financial and moral support of both senior levels of government and managed by a volunteer Board of Directors. Its purpose is, simply, to offer information, advice and encouragement to entrepreneurs who own, or intend to start, their own businesses and to operate them from their homes. We treat your personal contact information with respect and solely for the purposes related to your participation in MHBAC's network, informing you of upcoming events and of potential opportunities. We do not trade, rent, sell or disclose your personal information to anyone else at all. If at any time you wish to be removed from our network, simply contact us by email at Manitoba@CanadaBusiness.ca