Campbell River home-based business rules
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.
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.Zoning Bylaw 3250, 2006, Schedule A Text (PDF, consolidated to 4021, 2026), s. 4.9; Home Based Business · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingA 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 Home based businesses are permitted in all residential zones. |
|---|---|
| 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).Home Based Business; Business Licences, General Business Licence Information · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingHome based businesses are run from the entrepreneur's home and require a business license to operate. Business licences cost $150 per year Seasonal business licences (six-months only) cost $75 per season. |
| 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.Zoning Bylaw 3250, 2006, Schedule A Text (PDF, consolidated to 4021, 2026), s. 4.9; Sign Bylaw No. 3309, 2007 (PDF, consolidated to 3852, 2022), Sign Bylaw s. 6.4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingnot 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 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 |
| 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.Zoning Bylaw 3250, 2006, Schedule A Text (PDF, consolidated to 4021, 2026), s. 4.9(f), (i), (k) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingthere 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. |
| Bylaw | Zoning Bylaw No. 3250, 2006 (s. 4.9); Business Licence Bylaw No. 3296, 2007Zoning Bylaw 3250, 2006, Schedule A Text (PDF, consolidated to 4021, 2026), s. 4.9; Business Licence Bylaw No. 3296, 2007 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 3887, 2023), title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wording4.8 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 Business Licence Bylaw No. 3296, 2007 |
How it works
In Campbell River, Zoning Bylaw 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
- Read s. 4.9 of the Zoning Bylaw and confirm your plan fits.
- Complete the Business Licence Application Form and email it to business.licence@campbellriver.ca.
- 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
The same question in other places
Courtenay · Cumberland · Comox · Powell River · Sayward · Gold River
Home-based business rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Home Based Business, City of Campbell River (read 2026-11-05)
- Zoning Bylaw 3250, 2006, Schedule A Text (PDF, consolidated to 4021, 2026) (read 2026-11-05)
- Sign Bylaw No. 3309, 2007 (PDF, consolidated to 3852, 2022) (read 2026-11-05)
- Business Licences, City of Campbell River (read 2026-11-05)
- Business Licence Bylaw No. 3296, 2007 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 3887, 2023) (read 2026-11-05)
- Ticketing for Bylaw Offences Bylaw No. 3322, 2007 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 4003, 2025) (read 2026-11-05)
- Business Licences and Permits, City of Campbell River (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. How answers are checked.