---
title: Barriere home-based business rules
question: "Can I run a business from my home in Barriere?"
place: Barriere, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/barriere
category: Starting and running a business
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Barriere
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/barriere/home-based-business/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/barriere/home-based-business.json"
---

# Barriere home-based business rules

**Question:** Can I run a business from my home in Barriere?

**Short answer:** Yes. In Barriere a home occupation inside a dwelling is allowed in any zone, and a home-based business in an accessory building in any zone except RM. You need a District business licence, and the business can use no more than 25% of the habitable area.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Barriere, https://www.barriere.ca)  
**Cost:** The licence fee depends on the category the Business License Inspector assigns. Examples: Handicrafts and Arts $52.50, Professional $105 per person, Schools (dance, music, craft) $78.75.  
**How long:** Not stated.  
**Where:**
- Phone: District Office, 250-672-9751
- Email: District Office, inquiry@barriere.ca
- In person: District Office, 4936 Barriere Town Road, Barriere, BC V0E 1E0 (Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)

## Key facts

- **Allowed:** Yes. A Home Occupation (business inside a dwelling unit) is permitted in any zone. A Home-based Business (partly or wholly in an accessory structure) is permitted in any zone except RM, and is listed as an accessory use in SH and CR.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 111 (PDF, consolidated through Bylaw 258), s. 3.13(n); Division One definitions; ss. 4.1 and 5.1](https://www.barriere.ca/Home/DownloadDocument?docId=8d686cb9-21b4-4e4c-8125-7c8a0c7d6242)
  - Official wording: "a Home Occupation, except that a Home-based Business is not permitted in an" … "“Home-based Business” means a Home Occupation that is carried out partly or entirely within an" … "Duplex • Home-based business"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Business licence:** Yes. Every business needs a licence; the fee depends on the category the Business License Inspector assigns (Fees Bylaw 73, Schedule 3). Examples: Handicrafts and Arts $52.50, Professional $105 per person, Schools (dance, music, craft) $78.75. A home business that moves needs a new application but pays no change-of-location fee.
  - Source: [Business License and Regulation Bylaw No. 267, ss. 400 and 423](https://www.barriere.ca/Home/DownloadDocument?docId=323e9277-f93d-4c59-85c5-191512357351)
  - Official wording: "No person or entity shall carry on a Business within the District without having" … "Home-based Businesses that change their location to another home are exempt" … "Includes driving school, dance, martial arts, craft, and music."
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 73, Schedule 3 (PDF, compiled March 2026)](https://www.barriere.ca/Home/DownloadDocument?docId=82a5ed8f-4a01-42dd-b491-40a8605f27e0)
  - Official wording: "2401 Handicrafts and Arts $ 52.50" … "4001 Schools/Home Based or Commercial Space $ 78.75"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Limits:** A home occupation must not change the home's external residential character, create a nuisance, involve outside storage, or use flammable or explosive materials. Signs may not exceed 0.3 m². It may not use more than 25% of the habitable area. Employee, customer and parking limits are not set.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 111 (PDF, consolidated through Bylaw 258), Division One, "Home Occupation"](https://www.barriere.ca/Home/DownloadDocument?docId=8d686cb9-21b4-4e4c-8125-7c8a0c7d6242)
  - Official wording: "change the external residential character of the dwelling unit or parcel;" … "involve exterior storage of any materials or products used directly or indirectly in the" … "involve the storage or use of material or products that produce flammable or explosive" … "exceeding 0.3 square metres in area;" … "occupy more than 25% of the habitable area of the dwelling unit."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Businesses not allowed:** Cannabis sales cannot be a home occupation. Businesses that would break the limits (nuisance, outside storage, flammable or explosive materials) are also excluded.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 111 (PDF, consolidated through Bylaw 258), Division One, "Home Occupation" (g) added by Bylaw 160](https://www.barriere.ca/Home/DownloadDocument?docId=8d686cb9-21b4-4e4c-8125-7c8a0c7d6242)
  - Official wording: "(f) occupy more than 25% of the habitable area of the dwelling unit. Bylaw 160 (g) Include "Cannabis Sales" "Home-based Business" means a Home Occupation that is carried out partly or entirely within an" … "(a) change the external residential character of the dwelling unit or parcel; (b) create a nuisance; (c) involve exterior storage of any materials or products used directly or indirectly in the"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw No. 111 (Home Occupation and Home-based Business definitions; s. 3.13(n)); Business License and Regulation Bylaw No. 267; Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 73, Schedule 3
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 111 (PDF, consolidated through Bylaw 258), s. 3.13](https://www.barriere.ca/Home/DownloadDocument?docId=8d686cb9-21b4-4e4c-8125-7c8a0c7d6242)
  - Official wording: "3.13 PERMITTED USES IN ANY ZONE"
  - Source: [Business License and Regulation Bylaw No. 267, title](https://www.barriere.ca/Home/DownloadDocument?docId=323e9277-f93d-4c59-85c5-191512357351)
  - Official wording: "District of Barriere Business License and" … "Regulation Bylaw No. 267"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

Under [Zoning Bylaw No. 111](https://www.barriere.ca/Home/DownloadDocument?docId=8d686cb9-21b4-4e4c-8125-7c8a0c7d6242), a Home Occupation (a business inside a dwelling unit) is permitted in any zone. A Home-based Business (partly or wholly in an accessory structure) is permitted in any zone except RM, and is listed as an accessory use in SH and CR.

A home occupation must not change the home's external residential character, create a nuisance, involve outside storage, or use flammable or explosive materials. Signs may not exceed 0.3 m². It may not use more than 25% of the habitable area. A home-based business in an accessory building must meet the same limits. Cannabis sales cannot be a home occupation. The bylaw sets no limits on employees, customers or parking.

## Steps

1. Confirm your zone with the District Office (see the zoning-lookup answer).
2. Apply for a business licence (see the business-licence answer). The Business License Inspector assigns the category.
3. Pay the annual fee for that category.

## Good to know

- Every business needs a licence under [Business License and Regulation Bylaw No. 267](https://www.barriere.ca/Home/DownloadDocument?docId=323e9277-f93d-4c59-85c5-191512357351). The fees are in Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 73, Schedule 3.
- A home business that moves needs a new application but pays no change-of-location fee.
- Professionals work out at $105 per person; other categories apply to other kinds of work.

## Official forms and pages

- [Business Licences, District of Barriere](https://www.barriere.ca/p/business-licences)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 111 (PDF)](https://www.barriere.ca/Home/DownloadDocument?docId=8d686cb9-21b4-4e4c-8125-7c8a0c7d6242)
- [Business License and Regulation Bylaw No. 267 (PDF)](https://www.barriere.ca/Home/DownloadDocument?docId=323e9277-f93d-4c59-85c5-191512357351)

## Related questions

- [Barriere business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/barriere/business-licence.md)
- [Barriere zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/barriere/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Barriere short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/barriere/short-term-rental.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Home-based business rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/home-based-business.md)
- [Sun Peaks](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sun-peaks/home-based-business.md)
- [Clearwater](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/clearwater/home-based-business.md)
- [Kamloops](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kamloops/home-based-business.md)
- [Sicamous](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sicamous/home-based-business.md)
- [Cache Creek](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cache-creek/home-based-business.md)
- [Enderby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/enderby/home-based-business.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 111 (PDF, consolidated through Bylaw 258)](https://www.barriere.ca/Home/DownloadDocument?docId=8d686cb9-21b4-4e4c-8125-7c8a0c7d6242) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Business License and Regulation Bylaw No. 267 (PDF)](https://www.barriere.ca/Home/DownloadDocument?docId=323e9277-f93d-4c59-85c5-191512357351) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 73, Schedule 3 (PDF, compiled March 2026)](https://www.barriere.ca/Home/DownloadDocument?docId=82a5ed8f-4a01-42dd-b491-40a8605f27e0) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Business Licences, District of Barriere](https://www.barriere.ca/p/business-licences) (read 2026-11-08)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 5 facts was matched to the official text. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with District of Barriere. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/barriere/home-based-business/_