Victoria council urged to ban home-based pot businesses

Cannabis businesses shouldn’t be run out of the home as they might generate nuisance and security concerns, according to City of Victoria staff.

Staff are recommending changes to the home-occupation bylaw that would prohibit all cannabis businesses — including online sellers — from operating out of dwellings.

Coun. Chris Coleman said the proposals make sense. “In my mind, it probably reflects the same way we do it with alcohol. We have commercial establishments that can deliver alcohol products. You can make wine or beer at home, but you can’t sell it,” Coleman said.

While storefront cannabis retailers are prohibited in residential neighbourhoods, concerns have been raised that cannabis businesses such as a mail-order operations could potentially open as a home occupation, city staff said in a report going to councillors this week.

“Nuisance and security concerns could arise if an online cannabis dispensary with cannabis stored on site is operating in a residential neighbourhood,” city staff said.

The report recommends listing “cannabis-related businesses” as a prohibited use under the bylaw.

City staff are also recommending that up to three home occupations be permitted in a single residence. Currently only one is allowed, but that can create difficulties, for example, for couples when both work as consultants, contractors or freelancers.

Staff are recommending increasing the number of home occupations permitted to three providing only one of the occupations has customers who might show up at the dwelling, so as to reduce potential parking problems.