{"title":"Belcarra home-based business rules","question":"Can I run a business from my home?","slug":"home-based-business","place":{"path":"ca/bc/belcarra","name":"Belcarra","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"business","name":"Starting and running a business"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"Village of Belcarra","url":"https://belcarra.ca"},"short_answer":"Yes. In Belcarra, a home-based business is a permitted accessory use in the residential zones (RS-1, RM-1, RM-2 and RM-3) under Zoning Bylaw s. 210. You also need a Village business licence ($100 a year for a home occupation).","aliases":["home business belcarra","home occupation belcarra","work from home business licence belcarra","home based business rules belcarra"],"cost":"Business licence for a home occupation: $100 a year; half price after July 31.","how_long":"Not stated.","where":[{"type":"in_person","label":"Municipal Hall","value":"4084 Bedwell Bay Road, Belcarra, BC V3H 4P8","note":"Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (closed statutory holidays)."},{"type":"phone","label":"Village Office","value":"604-937-4100"},{"type":"email","label":"Village Office","value":"belcarra@belcarra.ca"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 510, 2018 (PDF)","url":"https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2021/05/Bylaw-510-2018-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidated-.pdf"},{"title":"Business License Application or Renewal Form (PDF)","url":"https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2024/11/Business-License-Application-or-Renewal-Form-2024-fillable.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"business-licence","title":"Belcarra business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/business-licence/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Belcarra zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/zoning-lookup/"},{"slug":"short-term-rental","title":"Belcarra short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/short-term-rental/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/port-moody","name":"Port Moody","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-moody/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/anmore","name":"Anmore","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/anmore/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/coquitlam","name":"Coquitlam","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coquitlam/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/new-westminster","name":"New Westminster","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/burnaby","name":"Burnaby","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/port-coquitlam","name":"Port Coquitlam","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-coquitlam/home-based-business/"}],"topic":{"title":"Home-based business rules in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/home-based-business/"},"facts":{"allowed":{"label":"Allowed","value":"Yes. Home-based business is a permitted accessory use in the residential zones (RS-1, RM-1, RM-2, RM-3), subject to the conditions in Zoning Bylaw s. 210.","short":"Yes, in residential zones as an accessory use","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2021/05/Bylaw-510-2018-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidated-.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 510, 2018 (PDF, consolidated), Village of Belcarra","section":"ss. 302.3(a), 210","quotes":["Home-Based Business Use (subject to the requirements of Section 210)","In any zone in which a Home-Based Business Use is permitted, the following conditions shall be satisfied:"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"licence":{"label":"Business licence","value":"Yes. A business licence is required to carry on any business in the Village. Home occupation licences (arts and crafts, professional services, tradesperson, food caterer, unclassified) are $100 a year; half price if starting after July 31.","short":"Yes: $100 a year","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2024/06/Bylaw-227-1995-Business-Licence-Consolidated.pdf","title":"Business Licence Bylaw No. 227, 1995 (PDF, consolidated), Village of Belcarra","section":"s. 2(a)","quotes":["no person shall carry on within the Village, any business unless he/she is the holder of a valid and subsisting licence"]},{"url":"https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2026/07/Bylaw-517-2018-Fees-and-Charges-Bylaw-Consolidated.pdf","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 517, 2018 (PDF, consolidated), Village of Belcarra","section":"Schedule 3","quotes":["Home Occupation Arts and Crafts $100.00","Note: Business Licence Fees are Pro Rated at 50% after July 31st"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"limits":{"label":"Limits","value":"Done inside the house or accessory buildings (except horticulture, family day care); no outdoor storage; no visible change to the dwelling. Up to 20% of the house floor area, 50 m² in all buildings together. Sign up to 0.4 m². At most two full-time workers, one a resident. Parking per zone. Short-term rentals and B&Bs are exempt from the area limits.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2021/05/Bylaw-510-2018-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidated-.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 510, 2018 (PDF, consolidated), Village of Belcarra","section":"s. 210(1)","quotes":["The activities shall be conducted entirely within the principal building or accessory building except where such activity involves horticulture or a family day care.","The use within the principal building shall occupy no more than 20% of the floor area of the principal building, up to a maximum of 50 square metres","In no case shall the aggregate floor area of all buildings used for the Home-Based Business Use exceed 50 square metres","The total display area of any outdoor advertising sign shall not exceed 0.4 square metres","Not more than the equivalent of two full-time persons shall be engaged in a Home- Based Business Use, one of which shall be a resident of the dwelling unit.","The use shall provide parking in accordance with the requirements in the applicable zone."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"not_allowed":{"label":"Businesses not allowed","value":"Retailing cannot be the primary home-based business. Display and sale of items produced on the premises is allowed.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2021/05/Bylaw-510-2018-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidated-.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 510, 2018 (PDF, consolidated), Village of Belcarra","section":"s. 210(1)(d)","quotes":["The use may involve the display and the sale of a commodity that is produced on the premises, however in no case shall the retailing of the commodity be the primary Home-Based Business Use."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Village of Belcarra Zoning Bylaw No. 510, 2018, s. 210; Business Licence Bylaw No. 227, 1995; fees in Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 517, 2018, Schedule 3","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2021/05/Bylaw-510-2018-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidated-.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 510, 2018 (PDF, consolidated), Village of Belcarra","section":"s. 210","quotes":["210 – Home-Based Business Use"]},{"url":"https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2024/06/Bylaw-227-1995-Business-Licence-Consolidated.pdf","title":"Business Licence Bylaw No. 227, 1995 (PDF, consolidated), Village of Belcarra","section":"title","quotes":["Business Licence Bylaw No. 227, 1995"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":5,"stated":5,"matched":5,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nUnder [Zoning Bylaw No. 510](https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2021/05/Bylaw-510-2018-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidated-.pdf), s. 210, a home-based business is a permitted accessory use in Belcarra's residential zones, if the conditions below are met. A business licence is also required under the [Business Licence Bylaw No. 227](https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2024/06/Bylaw-227-1995-Business-Licence-Consolidated.pdf).\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Confirm your zone with the Village Office (see zoning-lookup).\n2. Check your plans against the conditions below.\n3. Apply for a business licence ($100 a year for a home occupation; half price if starting after July 31) and pay with the application.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Work happens inside the house or accessory buildings, except horticulture and family day care. No outdoor storage and no visible change to the dwelling.\n- The business may use up to 20% of the house floor area, and no more than 50 m² across all buildings together.\n- An outdoor sign may be up to 0.4 m².\n- At most two full-time workers, one of whom lives in the home.\n- Parking must meet the rules for your zone.\n- Retailing cannot be the main business, but you may display and sell items made on the premises.\n- Short-term rentals and B&Bs are exempt from the area limits (see short-term-rental).\n- Contact: Village Office, 604-937-4100.","sources":[{"url":"https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2021/05/Bylaw-510-2018-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidated-.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 510, 2018 (PDF, consolidated), Village of Belcarra","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2024/06/Bylaw-227-1995-Business-Licence-Consolidated.pdf","title":"Business Licence Bylaw No. 227, 1995 (PDF, consolidated), Village of Belcarra","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2026/07/Bylaw-517-2018-Fees-and-Charges-Bylaw-Consolidated.pdf","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 517, 2018 (PDF, consolidated), Village of Belcarra","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://belcarra.ca/contact-us/","title":"Contact Us, Village of Belcarra","accessed":"2026-11-08"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-08","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 5 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/home-based-business/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/home-based-business.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/home-based-business.json"}}