What is a Home Occupation – Trade?
A Home Occupation – Trade allows residents in the Township of Guelph/Eramosa to operate certain types of businesses from their home, specifically trades or crafts that may require specialized equipment, such as woodworking, welding, or other building trades. These businesses can employ up to two additional workers who do not live in the home, and they must ensure that the business activity is compatible with the surrounding residential and agricultural environment.
Where are Home Occupation – Trades Permitted?
Home Occupation – Trades are permitted on properties zoned as Agricultural or Rural Residential, with a minimum lot size of 1 acre (0.4 hectares).
Setbacks and Regulations
To ensure that Home Occupation – Trades do not negatively impact nearby properties, specific zoning regulations and setbacks have been established:
- Side Yard Setbacks: The interior side yard setback is 3 meters. This increases to 7.5 meters if the property is next to a residential zone, ensuring adequate separation between the business activities and neighboring homes.
- Setbacks from Abutting Dwellings: To maintain compatibility with adjacent properties, the setback from neighboring dwellings has been reduced from 60 meters to 30 meters. This setback is consistent with the Ministry of Environment D-Series Guidelines, which address concerns related to potential nuisances such as noise, dust, and odor.
In some cases, the 30-meter setback can be reduced further, provided that the business owner demonstrates through additional studies (such as noise assessments) or mitigation measures (like buffering) that the business will not create a nuisance. However, the setback cannot be reduced below the minimum required by the parent zone.\
Why Were These Changes Made?
The changes to the minimum lot size and setbacks were made in response to direction from Council at the June 17, 2024, meeting. Planning staff reviewed the regulations, consulted industry standards, and considered practices in neighboring municipalities to ensure that the new rules would allow for more flexibility while still protecting neighboring properties from potential nuisances.
For more detailed information, please refer to the Home Occupation – Trade By-law or contact the Township’s Planning Department.