---
title: Campbell River home-based business rules
question: "Can I run a business from my home in Campbell River?"
place: Campbell River, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/campbell-river
category: Starting and running a business
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Campbell River
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/home-based-business/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/home-based-business.json"
---

# Campbell River home-based business rules

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

**Short answer:** Yes. In Campbell River a home-based business is allowed in all zones that permit a residential use, under the conditions in Zoning Bylaw s. 4.9. It must run inside the main dwelling and needs a City business licence, which costs $150 a year.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Campbell River, https://www.campbellriver.ca)  
**Cost:** Business licence $150 a year ($75 for a six-month seasonal licence).  
**How long:** Not stated.  
**Where:**
- Email: Business licence applications, business.licence@campbellriver.ca
- Phone: City of Campbell River business licensing, 250-286-5725

## Key facts

- **Allowed:** Yes, in all zones that permit a residential use, only under the conditions in Zoning s. 4.9. The business must be run inside the main dwelling (except commercial production and sale of fruit, vegetables or plants); in rural zones it may also use an ancillary building.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 3250, 2006, Schedule A Text (PDF, consolidated to 4021, 2026), s. 4.9](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-3250-2006-schedule-text)
  - Official wording: "A home business is permitted in all zones permitting a residential use, but only in" … "the use shall be confined to the interior of the principal" … "A home-based business is permitted in an ancillary building only in the rural"
  - Source: [Home Based Business](https://www.campbellriver.ca/business-economy/business-licences-permits/business-licences/home-based-business)
  - Official wording: "Home based businesses are permitted in all residential zones."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Business licence:** Yes. Home based businesses need a business licence. The City's general fee is $150 per year ($75 for a six-month seasonal licence).
  - Source: [Home Based Business](https://www.campbellriver.ca/business-economy/business-licences-permits/business-licences/home-based-business)
  - Official wording: "Home based businesses are run from the entrepreneur's home and require a business license to operate."
  - Source: [Business Licences, General Business Licence Information](https://www.campbellriver.ca/business-licences)
  - Official wording: "Business licences cost $150 per year" … "Seasonal business licences (six-months only) cost $75 per season."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Limits:** At most 40% of the dwelling's floor area, up to 80 m²; one non-resident employee; no external storage or outdoor display; no noise, dust, odour or traffic beyond a dwelling's. Zoning allows one un-illuminated sign up to 0.4 m²; the Sign Bylaw (s. 6.4) allows up to 0.37 m² per face, externally lit. Rural ancillary building: 42 m² (under 1 ha) or 80 m².
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 3250, 2006, Schedule A Text (PDF, consolidated to 4021, 2026), s. 4.9](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-3250-2006-schedule-text)
  - Official wording: "not more than 40% of the gross floor area of the residential dwelling shall" … "be used for the home occupation use, up to a total maximum area of 80" … "not more than one person who is not a resident of the dwelling to which the" … "one single or two-sided un-illuminated sign not" … "there shall be no external storage or outdoor display of materials," … "maximum size of an ancillary building used for a home-based business is" … "42 square metres"
  - Source: [Sign Bylaw No. 3309, 2007 (PDF, consolidated to 3852, 2022), Sign Bylaw s. 6.4](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/3309-sign-bylaw-consolidated-3466-mar-2011)
  - Official wording: "Home Based Business Signs are permitted only on the premises where such activity is" … "area of any one face shall not exceed 0.37m² (4 sq. ft). The height of the sign shall not" … "exceed 1.22 m (4 ft). The sign may be illuminated but only by means of a light source"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Businesses not allowed:** Cannabis operations (including edibles) are not permitted. Motor vehicle or engine salvage, repair, maintenance or sale, and parts sales, are not permitted except on rural lots of at least 1 hectare. Retail sales are limited to catalogue sales and goods produced on the premises.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 3250, 2006, Schedule A Text (PDF, consolidated to 4021, 2026), s. 4.9(f), (i), (k)](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-3250-2006-schedule-text)
  - Official wording: "there shall be no retail sales or commodities offered for sale, except for" … "catalogue sales, or those products or commodities produced on the premises;" … "engines or sale of parts shall not be permitted as a home-based business," … "except on lots in the rural zones with a minimum lot area of 1 hectare." … "Cannabis operations, including production of edible cannabis products, are" … "not permitted."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw No. 3250, 2006 (s. 4.9); Business Licence Bylaw No. 3296, 2007
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 3250, 2006, Schedule A Text (PDF, consolidated to 4021, 2026), s. 4.9](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-3250-2006-schedule-text)
  - Official wording: "4.8 OCCUPANCY DURING CONSTRUCTION.................................................. 43 4.9 HOME-BASED BUSINESS .......................................................................... 44 4.10 BED AND BREAKFAST ACCOMMODATIONS ........................................... 45" … "Amendment Page Zoning Bylaw 3250, 2006 ZONING BYLAW NO. 3250"
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 3296, 2007 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 3887, 2023), title](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/3296-business-licence-2007-consolidated-3528-2013)
  - Official wording: "Business Licence Bylaw No. 3296, 2007"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

In Campbell River, [Zoning Bylaw](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-3250-2006-schedule-text) s. 4.9 allows a home-based business in all zones that permit a residential use, only under its conditions. The business must run inside the main dwelling, except commercial production and sale of fruit, vegetables or plants. In rural zones it may also use an ancillary building. It needs a business licence like any other business.

## Steps

1. Read s. 4.9 of the Zoning Bylaw and confirm your plan fits.
2. Complete the Business Licence Application Form and email it to business.licence@campbellriver.ca.
3. Staff check zoning, then Building and Fire Inspectors review the application.

## Good to know

- Limits: at most 40% of the dwelling's floor area, up to 80 m²; one non-resident employee; no external storage or outdoor display; no noise, dust, odour or traffic beyond a dwelling's.
- In a rural ancillary building the limit is 42 m² (lot under 1 ha) or 80 m².
- Signs: the Zoning Bylaw allows one un-illuminated sign up to 0.4 m²; the Sign Bylaw (s. 6.4) allows up to 0.37 m² per face, externally lit. Confirm which applies with the City.
- Not allowed: cannabis operations (including edibles). Motor vehicle or engine salvage, repair, maintenance or sale, and parts sales, are not allowed except on rural lots of at least 1 hectare. Retail sales are limited to catalogue sales and goods produced on the premises.
- An unlawful home-based business is a $200 ticket.

## Official forms and pages

- [Home Based Business, City of Campbell River](https://www.campbellriver.ca/business-economy/business-licences-permits/business-licences/home-based-business)
- [Zoning Bylaw 3250, 2006, Schedule A text, section 4.9 (PDF)](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-3250-2006-schedule-text)
- [Business Licence Application Form (PDF)](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/business-licence-application)

## Related questions

- [Campbell River business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/business-licence.md)
- [Campbell River zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/zoning-lookup.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Home-based business rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/home-based-business.md)
- [Courtenay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/home-based-business.md)
- [Cumberland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/home-based-business.md)
- [Comox](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/home-based-business.md)
- [Powell River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/powell-river/home-based-business.md)
- [Sayward](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sayward/home-based-business.md)
- [Gold River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gold-river/home-based-business.md)

## Sources

- [Home Based Business, City of Campbell River](https://www.campbellriver.ca/business-economy/business-licences-permits/business-licences/home-based-business) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning Bylaw 3250, 2006, Schedule A Text (PDF, consolidated to 4021, 2026)](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-3250-2006-schedule-text) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Sign Bylaw No. 3309, 2007 (PDF, consolidated to 3852, 2022)](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/3309-sign-bylaw-consolidated-3466-mar-2011) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Business Licences, City of Campbell River](https://www.campbellriver.ca/business-licences) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Business Licence Bylaw No. 3296, 2007 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 3887, 2023)](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/3296-business-licence-2007-consolidated-3528-2013) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Ticketing for Bylaw Offences Bylaw No. 3322, 2007 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 4003, 2025)](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/3322-ticketing-bylaw-offences-consolidated-bylaw-4003-2025pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Business Licences and Permits, City of Campbell River](https://www.campbellriver.ca/business-economy/business-licences-permits) (read 2026-11-05)

_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 City of Campbell River. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/home-based-business/_