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

# Bowen Island home-based business rules

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

**Short answer:** In Bowen Island Municipality you can run a home occupation where your zone lists it as a permitted use, and you need a Bowen Island business licence. The licence is $100 a year if the public can drop in, or $25 a year if not, plus a $50 application fee.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Bowen Island Municipality, https://bowenislandmunicipality.ca)  
**Cost:** Public Access: $100 a year plus a $50 application fee. Non-Public Access (clients by appointment only, or work done online or by phone): $25 a year plus a $50 application fee. The licence fee is halved if the business starts after July 31.  
**How long:** Review generally takes a minimum of three weeks.  
**Where:**
- Email: Business licences, businesslicence@bimbc.ca
- Online: Apply for a Business Licence, https://bowenislandmunicipality.ca/services/licences/apply-for-a-business-licence/
- In person: Municipal Offices (in the Community Centre), 580 Bowen Island Trunk Road, Bowen Island, BC V0N 1G2 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed statutory holidays))

## Key facts

- **Allowed:** Yes, where a zone lists home occupation as a permitted use (for example the RR 1, RR 2 and RR 3 rural residential zones list 'Home occupation use subject to Part 3'). It must be run by a resident of the dwelling.
  - Source: [Land Use Bylaw No. 57, 2002 (PDF, consolidated November 2025), Zone RR1-RR3 uses](https://bowenisland.civicweb.net/document/190971/)
  - Official wording: "Home occupation use subject to Part 3"
  - Source: [Land Use Bylaw No. 57, 2002 (PDF, consolidated November 2025), s. 3.35.1](https://bowenisland.civicweb.net/document/190971/)
  - Official wording: "A home occupation shall be operated by a resident of the dwelling on the lot."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Business licence:** Yes. Home-Based Business - Public Access (regular hours, public can drop in): $100 per year plus $50 application fee. Non-Public Access (clients by appointment only, or work done online or by phone): $25 per year plus $50 application fee. A resident of the property must operate it.
  - Source: [Apply for a Business Licence, Bowen Island Municipality, Home-Based Business – Non Public Access](https://bowenislandmunicipality.ca/services/licences/apply-for-a-business-licence/)
  - Official wording: "Application Fee: $50 (non refundable)" … "Licence Fee: $25 per year."
  - Source: [Apply for a Business Licence, Bowen Island Municipality, Home-Based – Public Access](https://bowenislandmunicipality.ca/services/licences/apply-for-a-business-licence/)
  - Official wording: "Licence Fee: $100 per year."
  - Source: [Business Licensing Bylaw No. 465, 2018 (PDF, consolidated for convenience December 2024), Schedule A](https://bowenisland.civicweb.net/document/289893/)
  - Official wording: "Contractor $100 $50 Guest House $150 $75 Home-Based Business- Public $100 $50 Access Home-Based Business - Non- $25 $50" … "Home-Based Business- Public $100 $50 Access Home-Based Business - Non- $25 $50 Public Access Non-Profit Organization $0 $0"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Limits:** Run by a resident of the dwelling; no more than two employees per dwelling who are not residents (per home occupation); one sign up to 0.5 m²; no exterior changes that alter the residential look; no outside storage unless screened by a fence or landscape screen; goods sold limited to those produced, repaired or modified on the premises or directly related to the business.
  - Source: [Land Use Bylaw No. 57, 2002 (PDF, consolidated November 2025), s. 3.35](https://bowenisland.civicweb.net/document/190971/)
  - Official wording: "A maximum of two (2) employees per dwelling, other than residents of the" … "entails or necessitates any alteration of the exterior of the dwelling that would" … "No outside storage of material or equipment or both shall be permitted unless" … "The sale of goods or commodities shall be limited to goods or commodities" … "Home occupations shall be permitted a total of one sign not exceeding 0.5 square metre"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Businesses not allowed:** Not permitted as home occupations (need proper zoning or a temporary use permit): kennel; storage of toxic or flammable materials beyond what the business needs; chemical manufacturing; shake manufacture; contractor yards (two licensed vehicles may be parked); portable saw mill; welding shop; salvage yard or automobile repair.
  - Source: [Land Use Bylaw No. 57, 2002 (PDF, consolidated November 2025), s. 3.35.11](https://bowenisland.civicweb.net/document/190971/)
  - Official wording: "The following uses shall not be permitted as home occupations and will require" … "Kennel;" … "chemical manufacturing;" … "shake manufacture;" … "portable saw mill;" … "welding shop; and" … "salvage yard or automobile repair."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Land Use Bylaw No. 57, 2002, s. 3.35 (Home Occupations); Business Licensing Bylaw No. 465, 2018.
  - Source: [Land Use Bylaw No. 57, 2002 (PDF, consolidated November 2025), s. 3.35](https://bowenisland.civicweb.net/document/190971/)
  - Official wording: "shall be maintained in a healthy condition. HOME OCCUPATIONS 3.35 Where permitted within a Zone, home occupation use shall comply with the following" … "BOWEN ISLAND MUNICIPALITY "BOWEN ISLAND MUNICIPALITY LAND USE BYLAW NO. 57, 2002" CONSOLIDATED FOR CONVENIENCE - November 2025"
  - Source: [Business Licensing Bylaw No. 465, 2018 (PDF, consolidated for convenience December 2024), Title](https://bowenisland.civicweb.net/document/289893/)
  - Official wording: "Bowen Island Municipality Business Licence Bylaw"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

Bowen Island Municipality allows a home occupation where the zone lists it as a permitted use. For example, the RR 1, RR 2 and RR 3 rural residential zones list "Home occupation use subject to Part 3" of the [Land Use Bylaw No. 57, 2002](https://bowenisland.civicweb.net/document/190971/). Not every zone allows it, so check yours. It must be run by a resident of the dwelling, and more than one home occupation may be run in a dwelling.

You also need a business licence under [Business Licensing Bylaw No. 465, 2018](https://bowenisland.civicweb.net/document/289893/). A contractor with an "at home" part pays the Contractor fee ($100 licence, $50 application) and also submits Schedule C, Home-Based Business.

## Steps

1. Check your zone's permitted uses (see the zoning-lookup answer).
2. Choose the licence category: Public Access (regular hours, public can drop in) or Non-Public Access.
3. Complete and sign the application and any schedules, then email them to businesslicence@bimbc.ca or drop them off at Municipal Hall.
4. Wait for the review, which covers zoning, building, driveway access and fire safety. Get the licence before you operate or advertise.

## Good to know

- **Limits (Land Use Bylaw s. 3.35):** no more than two employees per dwelling who are not residents (per home occupation); one sign up to 0.5 m²; no exterior changes that alter the residential look; no outside storage unless screened by a fence or landscape screen; goods sold limited to those produced, repaired or modified on the premises or directly related to the business.
- **Not allowed as a home occupation** (these need proper zoning or a temporary use permit): a kennel; storage of toxic or flammable materials beyond what the business needs; chemical manufacturing; shake manufacture; contractor yards (two licensed vehicles may be parked); a portable saw mill; a welding shop; a salvage yard; automobile repair.
- The bylaw and licence pages set no floor-area or client-visit limit that we found. Ask Planning (604-947-4255 ext. 6).

## Official forms and pages

- [Apply for a Business Licence, Bowen Island Municipality](https://bowenislandmunicipality.ca/services/licences/apply-for-a-business-licence/)
- [Land Use Bylaw No. 57, 2002 (PDF)](https://bowenisland.civicweb.net/document/190971/)
- [Business Licensing Bylaw No. 465, 2018 (PDF)](https://bowenisland.civicweb.net/document/289893/)

## Related questions

- [Bowen Island business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/business-licence.md)
- [Bowen Island zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Bowen Island short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/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)
- [West Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/home-based-business.md)
- [Gibsons](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gibsons/home-based-business.md)
- [Lions Bay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lions-bay/home-based-business.md)
- [District of North Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/home-based-business.md)
- [North Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver/home-based-business.md)
- [Richmond](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/richmond/home-based-business.md)

## Sources

- [Land Use Bylaw No. 57, 2002 (PDF, consolidated November 2025)](https://bowenisland.civicweb.net/document/190971/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Apply for a Business Licence, Bowen Island Municipality](https://bowenislandmunicipality.ca/services/licences/apply-for-a-business-licence/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Business Licensing Bylaw No. 465, 2018 (PDF, consolidated for convenience December 2024)](https://bowenisland.civicweb.net/document/289893/) (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 Bowen Island Municipality. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/home-based-business/_