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

# Chetwynd home-based business rules

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

**Short answer:** Yes, in Chetwynd you can run a home occupation if you live in the dwelling, in the AG, RU1, RU2, R1, R2 and MHP zones (one per parcel). A home industry is allowed only in AG, RU1 and RU2. You also need a District business licence, $100 a year.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Chetwynd, https://www.gochetwynd.com)  
**Cost:** $100 a year for a home based business licence ($50 if the business starts after June 30).  
**How long:** Not stated.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Bylaw Enforcement Officer, District of Chetwynd, 250-401-4100
- In person: Municipal Office, 5400 Hospital Road, Chetwynd, BC V0C 1J0 (Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed statutory holidays).)

## Key facts

- **Allowed:** Yes, if the owner lives in the dwelling. A home occupation is allowed as an accessory use in the AG, RU1, RU2, R1, R2 and MHP zones (one per parcel). A home industry is allowed only in AG, RU1 and RU2.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1150, 2023, with Amendment 1162 and maps, s. 4.25(1) and 4.26(1)](https://www.gochetwynd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/BL1150-Chetwynd-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1150-2023-with-1162-and-maps-1.pdf)
  - Official wording: "The owner of the home-based business must be a resident of the principal dwelling unit." … "Only one home occupation is permitted per parcel."
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1150, 2023, with Amendment 1162 and maps, s. 10.2 (R1)](https://www.gochetwynd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/BL1150-Chetwynd-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1150-2023-with-1162-and-maps-1.pdf)
  - Official wording: "v. Detached suite vi. Hen keeping vii. Home occupation viii. Secondary suite"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1150, 2023, with Amendment 1162 and maps, s. 11.2 (R2)](https://www.gochetwynd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/BL1150-Chetwynd-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1150-2023-with-1162-and-maps-1.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Accessory Uses i. Accessory building ii. Home occupation"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1150, 2023, with Amendment 1162 and maps, s. 7.2 (AG)](https://www.gochetwynd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/BL1150-Chetwynd-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1150-2023-with-1162-and-maps-1.pdf)
  - Official wording: "iv. Detached suite v. Hen keeping vi. Home industry vii. Home occupation viii. Secondary suite"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Business licence:** Yes. Bylaw No. 906 requires a business licence for all businesses, including home based businesses. Category 6, Home based Business: $100 a year ($50 if the business starts after June 30).
  - Source: [Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 906, 2009, consolidated, s. 4.1.1](https://www.gochetwynd.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/BL906-Business-Licence-Bylaw-1.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No person shall carry on a business, including home based businesses and" … "peddlers, within the municipality without having first obtained a valid"
  - Source: [Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 906, 2009, consolidated, Schedule A, Category 6](https://www.gochetwynd.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/BL906-Business-Licence-Bylaw-1.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Category 6 Home based Business $100.00"
  - Source: [Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 906, 2009, consolidated, s. 4.3.2](https://www.gochetwynd.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/BL906-Business-Licence-Bylaw-1.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Where a new business commences operation after June 30th of any year," … "the annual fee will be reduced by fifty percent (50%)."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Limits:** Only one outside person may work on the parcel; no business between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m.; no more than 10 visitors or customers a day; one extra paved parking space; all work inside the dwelling or an accessory building with no outside storage; signs must follow the Sign Bylaw. A home industry in the dwelling is limited to 25% of the floor area and needs no more than two extra parking spaces.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1150, 2023, with Amendment 1162 and maps, s. 4.25(1)](https://www.gochetwynd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/BL1150-Chetwynd-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1150-2023-with-1162-and-maps-1.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No more than one person not residing in the principal residence where the home-based business is" … "No home-based business will be conducted between the hours of 10:00 pm and 8:00 am." … "not more than 10 visitors or customers a day." … "A paved parking space is required in addition to those required for the single-detached dwelling." … "and will involve no external storage of materials, containers or finished products." … "All signage must comply with the District of Chetwynd Sign Bylaw."
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1150, 2023, with Amendment 1162 and maps, s. 4.27(1)(a)](https://www.gochetwynd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/BL1150-Chetwynd-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1150-2023-with-1162-and-maps-1.pdf)
  - Official wording: "will not exceed an area of more than 25%" … "of the dwelling floor area."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Businesses not allowed:** Not allowed: any home business using materials or processes that give off flammable or explosive vapours or gases, or needing bulk deliveries by commercial vehicles or trailers. In R zones it also must not cause offensive noise, vibration, traffic, smoke, dust, odour, glare, heat or electrical interference.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1150, 2023, with Amendment 1162 and maps, s. 4.25(1)](https://www.gochetwynd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/BL1150-Chetwynd-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1150-2023-with-1162-and-maps-1.pdf)
  - Official wording: "A home-based business is not permitted to use materials or processes that produce flammable" … "explosive vapours or gases." … "the residence by commercial vehicles or trailers will not be permitted." … "will not produce any offensive noise, vibration,"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw No. 1150, 2023, s. 4.25 (Home-Based Business), 4.26 (Home Occupations) and 4.27 (Home Industries); Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 906, 2009.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1150, 2023, with Amendment 1162 and maps, s. 4.25](https://www.gochetwynd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/BL1150-Chetwynd-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1150-2023-with-1162-and-maps-1.pdf)
  - Official wording: "management practices. 4.25 Home-Based Business 1. The following regulations apply to home-based businesses in the District:" … "financial advisor, massage therapist, real estate agent, tax consultant, and other similar occupations. 4.27 Home Industries 1. The following regulations apply to home industries in the District:" … "NOW THEREFORE Council of the District of Chetwynd, in open meeting, hereby enacts as follows: 1. This Bylaw may be cited as "Zoning Bylaw No. 1150, 2023". 2. The following schedules attached hereto are hereby made part of this Bylaw and adopted as the zoning"
  - Source: [Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 906, 2009, consolidated, Title](https://www.gochetwynd.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/BL906-Business-Licence-Bylaw-1.pdf)
  - Official wording: "BUSINESS LICENSING AND REGULATION" … "BYLAW NO. 906, 2009"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The District of Chetwynd's [Zoning Bylaw No. 1150](https://www.gochetwynd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/BL1150-Chetwynd-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1150-2023-with-1162-and-maps-1.pdf) allows a home occupation as an accessory use in the AG, RU1, RU2, R1, R2 and MHP zones, one per parcel, if the owner lives in the dwelling. Home occupations include an accountant, artist studio, barber, beautician, financial advisor, massage therapist, real estate agent and tax consultant. A home industry is allowed only in AG, RU1 and RU2. It is not listed as a use in the RM1, RM2, commercial, industrial or public zones.

## Steps

1. Check your zone allows a home occupation or home industry (see zoning-lookup).
2. Complete the Schedule B licence application (see business-licence).
3. Pay the $100 annual fee; the Bylaw Enforcement Officer grants the licence if you comply with District bylaws.

## Good to know

- Limits: only one outside person may work on the parcel; no business between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m.; no more than 10 visitors or customers a day; one extra paved parking space; all work inside the dwelling or an accessory building with no outside storage; signs must follow the Sign Bylaw.
- A home industry in the dwelling is limited to 25% of the floor area and needs two extra parking spaces at most.
- Not allowed: any business using materials or processes that give off flammable or explosive vapours or gases, or needing bulk deliveries by commercial vehicles or trailers. In R zones it also must not cause offensive noise, vibration, traffic, smoke, dust, odour, glare, heat or electrical interference.
- A suite is not permitted in a dwelling that has a home-based business.
- The floor-area limit for a home occupation was not found. Ask the District.

## Official forms and pages

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 1150, 2023 (PDF)](https://www.gochetwynd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/BL1150-Chetwynd-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1150-2023-with-1162-and-maps-1.pdf)
- [Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 906, 2009 (PDF)](https://www.gochetwynd.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/BL906-Business-Licence-Bylaw-1.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Chetwynd business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chetwynd/business-licence.md)
- [Chetwynd zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chetwynd/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Chetwynd secondary suite and carriage house rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chetwynd/secondary-suite.md)
- [Chetwynd short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chetwynd/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)
- [Hudson's Hope](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hudsons-hope/home-based-business.md)
- [Tumbler Ridge](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/home-based-business.md)
- [Fort St. John](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-john/home-based-business.md)
- [Taylor](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/taylor/home-based-business.md)
- [Dawson Creek](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dawson-creek/home-based-business.md)
- [Pouce Coupe](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pouce-coupe/home-based-business.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 1150, 2023, with Amendment 1162 and maps (PDF), District of Chetwynd](https://www.gochetwynd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/BL1150-Chetwynd-Zoning-Bylaw-No.-1150-2023-with-1162-and-maps-1.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 906, 2009, consolidated (PDF), District of Chetwynd](https://www.gochetwynd.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/BL906-Business-Licence-Bylaw-1.pdf) (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 District of Chetwynd. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chetwynd/home-based-business/_