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

# Castlegar home-based business rules

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

**Short answer:** Yes, where your zone allows it. In Castlegar a home-based business is an accessory use of your home. It needs a City business licence (the Home Occupations fee is $100) and must meet limits on floor area, customer visits, employees, hours and signs in Zoning Bylaw 1428.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Castlegar, https://www.castlegar.ca)  
**Cost:** The Home Occupations business licence fee is $100 (Bylaw 1337, Schedule A). Renewal is due by January 31, with a $50 penalty after that.  
**How long:** Not stated for home-based businesses specifically; ask Development Services.  
**Where:**
- Email: Development Services, devserv@castlegar.ca
- Phone: Development Services, 250-365-8964
- In person: City Hall, 460 Columbia Avenue, Castlegar, BC V1N 1G7

## Key facts

- **Allowed:** Yes, as an accessory use to a home, done mainly by people who live there. It is a permitted use in the R1, R2, R3, R4, RU, CPA, RMU and C1 to C4 zones. Up to 2 home-based businesses per lot; allowed in accessory buildings and accessory dwelling units.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 1428 (consolidated, PDF), sections 5.2 and Table 2, s. 5.2.1, 5.2.2](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Consolidated.Branded.Bylaw_.1428-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "A Home-Based Business is an Accessory Use to the Principal Residential Use of a Lot." … "Business activity shall be performed by person(s) residing in the Dwelling unless"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 1428 (consolidated, PDF), sections 5.2 and Table 2, s. 7.1.2, 7.2.2](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Consolidated.Branded.Bylaw_.1428-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "R1: Low Density Residential" … "R2: Ground-Oriented Multi-Unit Residential"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 1428 (consolidated, PDF), sections 5.2 and Table 2](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Consolidated.Branded.Bylaw_.1428-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Maximum number of Home-Based Businesses" … "The Home-Based Business is permitted in an"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Business licence:** Yes. Home-based businesses must get the appropriate business licence and building permit where required. The Home Occupations licence fee is $100.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 1428 (consolidated, PDF), sections 5.2 and Table 2, s. 5.2.3](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Consolidated.Branded.Bylaw_.1428-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Home-Based Businesses shall obtain the appropriate Business License and Building"
  - Source: [Business Licencing Bylaw 1337 (consolidated March 2024, PDF), Schedule A](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Consolidated-Bylaw1337-Business-Licencing.pdf)
  - Official wording: "$150 COMMERCIAL SERVICES (FOOD SERVICES, ENTERTAINMENT, DAYCARES, OTHER) $100 CONTRACTORS $100 HOME OCCUPATIONS $100 INTER-COMMUNITY BUSINESS LICENCE $250 INDUSTRIAL LIGHT TO MEDIUM (SERVICE STATIONS, TRUCK DEPOTS, LUMBER YARDS)"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Limits:** Business may use up to 40% of the home's gross floor area; up to 20 customer visits a week; up to 3 full-time-equivalent employees who live elsewhere; 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.; one unlit sign up to 0.3 m². Outdoor storage only in the fenced or screened rear yard, up to 40% of it. Parking: 1 space if clients visit or non-resident staff work there.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 1428 (consolidated, PDF), sections 5.2 and Table 2, s. 5.2.14 to 5.2.21 (Table 2)](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Consolidated.Branded.Bylaw_.1428-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Maximum Gross Floor Area Percentage" … "Maximum number of customer visits allowed" … "Maximum number of full-time equivalent" … "Shall not exceed 40% of the Rear Yard." … "8:00 am-8:00 pm" … "plate not exceeding 0.3m2."
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 1428 (consolidated, PDF), sections 5.2 and Table 2, Table 6](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Consolidated.Branded.Bylaw_.1428-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "If the business has client visits or non-resident" … "employees a minimum of 1 space is required"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Businesses not allowed:** None set. Castlegar's bylaw and City pages list no banned home business types.
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw No. 1428, s. 5.2 and Table 2 (Home-Based Business Regulations); Business Licencing Bylaw No. 1337, 2020
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 1428 (consolidated, PDF), sections 5.2 and Table 2, s. 5.2.10](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Consolidated.Branded.Bylaw_.1428-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Home-Based Business Use shall comply with the regulations in Table 2: Home-Based"
  - Source: [Business Licencing Bylaw 1337 (consolidated March 2024, PDF), s. 1.1](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Consolidated-Bylaw1337-Business-Licencing.pdf)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw may be cited for all purposes as ‘Business Licencing Bylaw No. 1337, 2020’."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under [Zoning Bylaw 1428](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Consolidated.Branded.Bylaw_.1428-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf), a home-based business is an accessory use to a home, carried out mainly by the people who live there. It is a permitted use in the R1, R2, R3, R4, RU, CPA, RMU and C1 to C4 zones. You can run up to 2 per lot, including in accessory buildings and accessory dwelling units. Zones not listed do not allow it.

You must get the appropriate business licence and a building permit where required.

## Steps

1. Confirm your zone allows it (see zoning-lookup) and that your activity fits the limits below.
2. Apply for a business licence from Development Services. The Home Occupations fee is $100.
3. If you offer food service or personal services such as a hair salon or massage, you must pass a Health Authority inspection.
4. Renew by January 31 each year; a $50 penalty applies after that.

## Good to know

- Limits (Table 2): up to 40% of the home's gross floor area; up to 20 customer visits a week; up to 3 full-time-equivalent employees who live elsewhere; 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.; one unlit sign up to 0.3 m².
- Outdoor storage is allowed only in the fenced or screened rear yard, up to 40% of it.
- Parking: 1 space if clients visit or non-resident staff work there.
- No odour, noxious matter, smoke, fumes, glare, recurring noise, vibration, fire hazard or electrical interference may reach beyond the lot.
- On-premises retail sales and food prepared or sold on site are permitted under Table 2.
- Breaking the Table 2 rules can bring a municipal ticket of $200 for a first offence and $400 for a second (Municipal Ticketing Bylaw 1179).
- The bylaw does not list banned types of home business; Table 2 limits the activity instead. Short-term rentals are handled separately (see short-term-rental).

## Official forms and pages

- [Zoning Bylaw 1428 (consolidated, PDF)](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Consolidated.Branded.Bylaw_.1428-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf)
- [Business Licencing Bylaw 1337 (consolidated, PDF)](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Consolidated-Bylaw1337-Business-Licencing.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Castlegar business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/business-licence.md)
- [Castlegar short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/short-term-rental.md)
- [Castlegar zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/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)
- [Fruitvale](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fruitvale/home-based-business.md)
- [Trail](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/trail/home-based-business.md)
- [Warfield](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/warfield/home-based-business.md)
- [Rossland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/rossland/home-based-business.md)
- [Montrose](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/montrose/home-based-business.md)
- [Nelson](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nelson/home-based-business.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw 1428 (consolidated, PDF), sections 5.2 and Table 2](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Consolidated.Branded.Bylaw_.1428-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Business Licencing Bylaw 1337 (consolidated March 2024, PDF), City of Castlegar](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Consolidated-Bylaw1337-Business-Licencing.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Municipal Ticketing Bylaw 1179 (consolidated, PDF), City of Castlegar](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Consolidated.Branded.Bylaw_.1179.Municipal-Ticketing-2.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 4 of 5 facts was matched to the official text; 1 is recorded as not set. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Castlegar. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/home-based-business/_