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

# Belcarra home-based business rules

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

**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).

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Village of Belcarra, https://belcarra.ca)  
**Cost:** Business licence for a home occupation: $100 a year; half price after July 31.  
**How long:** Not stated.  
**Where:**
- In person: Municipal Hall, 4084 Bedwell Bay Road, Belcarra, BC V3H 4P8 (Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (closed statutory holidays).)
- Phone: Village Office, 604-937-4100
- Email: Village Office, belcarra@belcarra.ca

## Key facts

- **Allowed:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 510, 2018 (PDF, consolidated), ss. 302.3(a), 210](https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2021/05/Bylaw-510-2018-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidated-.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Business licence:** 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.
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 227, 1995 (PDF, consolidated), s. 2(a)](https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2024/06/Bylaw-227-1995-Business-Licence-Consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "no person shall carry on within the Village, any business unless he/she is the holder of a valid and subsisting licence"
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 517, 2018 (PDF, consolidated), Schedule 3](https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2026/07/Bylaw-517-2018-Fees-and-Charges-Bylaw-Consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Home Occupation Arts and Crafts $100.00" … "Note: Business Licence Fees are Pro Rated at 50% after July 31st"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Limits:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 510, 2018 (PDF, consolidated), s. 210(1)](https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2021/05/Bylaw-510-2018-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidated-.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Businesses not allowed:** Retailing cannot be the primary home-based business. Display and sale of items produced on the premises is allowed.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 510, 2018 (PDF, consolidated), s. 210(1)(d)](https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2021/05/Bylaw-510-2018-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidated-.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** 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
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 510, 2018 (PDF, consolidated), s. 210](https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2021/05/Bylaw-510-2018-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidated-.pdf)
  - Official wording: "210 – Home-Based Business Use"
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 227, 1995 (PDF, consolidated), title](https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2024/06/Bylaw-227-1995-Business-Licence-Consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Business Licence Bylaw No. 227, 1995"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

Under [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).

## Steps

1. Confirm your zone with the Village Office (see zoning-lookup).
2. Check your plans against the conditions below.
3. Apply for a business licence ($100 a year for a home occupation; half price if starting after July 31) and pay with the application.

## Good to know

- Work happens inside the house or accessory buildings, except horticulture and family day care. No outdoor storage and no visible change to the dwelling.
- The business may use up to 20% of the house floor area, and no more than 50 m² across all buildings together.
- An outdoor sign may be up to 0.4 m².
- At most two full-time workers, one of whom lives in the home.
- Parking must meet the rules for your zone.
- Retailing cannot be the main business, but you may display and sell items made on the premises.
- Short-term rentals and B&Bs are exempt from the area limits (see short-term-rental).
- Contact: Village Office, 604-937-4100.

## Official forms and pages

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 510, 2018 (PDF)](https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2021/05/Bylaw-510-2018-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidated-.pdf)
- [Business License Application or Renewal Form (PDF)](https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2024/11/Business-License-Application-or-Renewal-Form-2024-fillable.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Belcarra business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/business-licence.md)
- [Belcarra zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Belcarra short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/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)
- [Port Moody](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-moody/home-based-business.md)
- [Anmore](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/anmore/home-based-business.md)
- [Coquitlam](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coquitlam/home-based-business.md)
- [New Westminster](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/home-based-business.md)
- [Burnaby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/home-based-business.md)
- [Port Coquitlam](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-coquitlam/home-based-business.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 510, 2018 (PDF, consolidated), Village of Belcarra](https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2021/05/Bylaw-510-2018-Zoning-Bylaw-Consolidated-.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Business Licence Bylaw No. 227, 1995 (PDF, consolidated), Village of Belcarra](https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2024/06/Bylaw-227-1995-Business-Licence-Consolidated.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 517, 2018 (PDF, consolidated), Village of Belcarra](https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2026/07/Bylaw-517-2018-Fees-and-Charges-Bylaw-Consolidated.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Contact Us, Village of Belcarra](https://belcarra.ca/contact-us/) (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 Village of Belcarra. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/home-based-business/_