Can I use my home address as my corporation's registered office?

What is a registered office for?

It’s the corporation’s official address. Legal documents can be served there, and by default it’s where the corporation keeps its minute book and other records. Section 14 of Ontario’s Business Corporations Act requires an Ontario corporation to have its registered office in Ontario. Section 19 of the CBCA requires a federal corporation to have one in the province named in its articles.

It doesn’t have to be where you work. Many startups operate fully remote and use a registered office somewhere else.

Can I use my home?

Yes, if you can reliably receive mail and documents there. The trade-off is privacy. The registered office address is on the public corporate record, and anyone can buy a corporate profile report.

What other addresses work?

Option	Works if	Things to weigh
Your home	You’re comfortable with it being public	Moving means filing a change
Lawyer’s or accountant’s office	They agree to act and forward documents	Often combined with keeping the minute book
Virtual or shared office	It accepts documents for you and forwards promptly	Check the contract and how they handle legal service
Coworking space	It’s a fixed address you can rely on	Membership ends, address problems follow

Use a street address that can accept delivery. Ontario’s filing instructions say a post office box alone is not acceptable as the registered office address.

Why does it matter if documents go missing?

Because service at the registered office can count as service on the corporation. If a claim or a government notice goes to an address no one checks, the corporation can miss a deadline and face a default judgment or a dissolution notice without knowing.

How do I change it?

For an Ontario corporation, the directors can pass a resolution moving the office within the same municipality under section 14(3) of the Business Corporations Act, and the corporation files a notice of change through the Ontario Business Registry. Changes must be reported within 15 days under section 4 of the Corporations Information Act. Moving the registered office to a different municipality in Ontario takes a special resolution of the shareholders under section 14(4).

For a federal corporation, the directors can change the address within the province in the articles, and the corporation notifies Corporations Canada within 15 days under section 19(4) of the CBCA. Moving to another province requires amending the articles.

Does the registered office affect where I pay tax or which law applies?

No. The jurisdiction of incorporation sets which corporate statute applies, and tax residence depends on other factors. A registered office address is about notice and records.

Our incorporation work includes setting up the registered office and minute book. See how do I incorporate in Ontario? and our fees page.

This guide is general information about Ontario and Canadian law, not legal advice for your situation. To talk through setting up your company, book a free 15-minute consult.