Bowen Island home-based business rules
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.
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.Land Use Bylaw No. 57, 2002 (PDF, consolidated November 2025), Zone RR1-RR3 uses; Land Use Bylaw No. 57, 2002 (PDF, consolidated November 2025), s. 3.35.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingHome occupation use subject to Part 3 A home occupation shall be operated by a resident of the dwelling on the lot. |
|---|---|
| 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.Apply for a Business Licence, Bowen Island Municipality, Home-Based Business – Non Public Access; Apply for a Business Licence, Bowen Island Municipality, Home-Based – Public Access; Business Licensing Bylaw No. 465, 2018 (PDF, consolidated for convenience December 2024), Schedule A · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingApplication Fee: $50 (non refundable) Licence Fee: $25 per year. Licence Fee: $100 per year. 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 |
| 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.Land Use Bylaw No. 57, 2002 (PDF, consolidated November 2025), s. 3.35 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingA 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 |
| 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.Land Use Bylaw No. 57, 2002 (PDF, consolidated November 2025), s. 3.35.11 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingThe 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. |
| Bylaw | Land Use Bylaw No. 57, 2002, s. 3.35 (Home Occupations); Business Licensing Bylaw No. 465, 2018.Land Use Bylaw No. 57, 2002 (PDF, consolidated November 2025), s. 3.35; Business Licensing Bylaw No. 465, 2018 (PDF, consolidated for convenience December 2024), Title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingshall 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 Bowen Island Municipality Business Licence Bylaw |
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. 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. A contractor with an "at home" part pays the Contractor fee ($100 licence, $50 application) and also submits Schedule C, Home-Based Business.
Steps
- Check your zone's permitted uses (see the zoning-lookup answer).
- Choose the licence category: Public Access (regular hours, public can drop in) or Non-Public Access.
- Complete and sign the application and any schedules, then email them to businesslicence@bimbc.ca or drop them off at Municipal Hall.
- 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
The same question in other places
West Vancouver · Gibsons · Lions Bay · District of North Vancouver · North Vancouver · Richmond
Home-based business rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Land Use Bylaw No. 57, 2002 (PDF, consolidated November 2025) (read 2026-11-08)
- Apply for a Business Licence, Bowen Island Municipality (read 2026-11-08)
- Business Licensing Bylaw No. 465, 2018 (PDF, consolidated for convenience December 2024) (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. How answers are checked.