{"title":"Clearwater home-based business rules","question":"Can I run a business from my home?","slug":"home-based-business","place":{"path":"ca/bc/clearwater","name":"Clearwater","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"business","name":"Starting and running a business"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"District of Clearwater","url":"https://www.districtofclearwater.com"},"short_answer":"Yes, in Clearwater a home based business is allowed in the RL-1, SH-1, CR-1, R-1, R-2, R-3, MHP-1 and MX-1 zones if it meets the Zoning Bylaw rules. You also need a District business licence, $100 a year.","aliases":["home business clearwater","home based business licence clearwater","run a business from home clearwater","home occupation clearwater"],"cost":"Business licence for a home based business: $100 a year, halved for a licence obtained after July 31.","how_long":"Not stated.","where":[{"type":"in_person","label":"District of Clearwater office","value":"209 Dutch Lake Road, Clearwater, BC V0E 1N0","note":"Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m."},{"type":"phone","label":"District of Clearwater office","value":"250-674-2257"},{"type":"email","label":"District of Clearwater office","value":"admin@docbc.ca"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 133, 2016, s. 5.18 (consolidated)","url":"https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/105297/"},{"title":"Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 124, 2014 (consolidated)","url":"https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/56496/"},{"title":"Business Licence Application (PDF)","url":"https://www.districtofclearwater.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Business-Licence-Application-2025.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"business-licence","title":"Clearwater business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/clearwater/business-licence/"},{"slug":"short-term-rental","title":"Clearwater short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/clearwater/short-term-rental/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Clearwater zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/clearwater/zoning-lookup/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/barriere","name":"Barriere","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/barriere/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/sun-peaks","name":"Sun Peaks","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sun-peaks/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/100-mile-house","name":"100 Mile House","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/100-mile-house/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/kamloops","name":"Kamloops","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kamloops/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/sicamous","name":"Sicamous","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sicamous/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/clinton","name":"Clinton","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/clinton/home-based-business/"}],"topic":{"title":"Home-based business rules in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/home-based-business/"},"facts":{"allowed":{"label":"Allowed","value":"Yes, as an accessory use in the RL-1, SH-1, CR-1, R-1, R-2, R-3, MHP-1 and MX-1 zones, if it meets s. 5.18. In the R-3 zone there may be no non-resident employees and no customers at the premises.","short":"Yes, in listed zones as an accessory use","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/105297/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 133, 2016 (PDF, consolidated to April 1, 2025)","section":"s. 5.18; zones","quotes":["Home based business where expressly permitted in this Bylaw as an accessory use must:","e) home based business; and f) secondary suite.","home based business subject to there being no non-resident employees and no customers","b) accessory building; c) home based business; d) amenity areas for the use of the manufactured home park","v) accessory building; w) secondary suite; and x) home based business."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"licence":{"label":"Business licence","value":"Yes. Anyone carrying on a business in the District must hold a licence. Home based business (services, contractors, professional services): $100 a year, halved for a licence obtained after July 31.","short":"Yes: $100 a year","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/56496/","title":"Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 124, 2014 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 224, 2019)","section":"s. 3.1; Schedule A, category 5 and s. 2(a)","quotes":["A person must not engage in or carry on a business within the District unless that","5. HOME BASED BUSINESS Services, Contractors, Professional Services $100.00","by 50% for a person who obtains a Licence after July 31st in any year;"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"limits":{"label":"Limits","value":"Carried out primarily by residents, inside the dwelling; no more than one non-resident full-time employee or two part-time; no exterior change to the building except a sign; no outside storage or operations (except greenhouse, agriculture, nursery); no noise, dust, smell or nuisance; 1 customer parking space (Table 3).","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/105297/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 133, 2016 (PDF, consolidated to April 1, 2025)","section":"s. 5.18(a)-(e); Table 3","quotes":["a) be carried out primarily by residents of the property and except as specifically permitted","b) have no more than one non-resident full time employee or two part-time","d) have no exterior storage of materials or commodities on the subject lot and no exterior","Home Based Business 1 customer parking space"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"not_allowed":{"label":"Businesses not allowed","value":"Vehicle, engine, heavy equipment, trailer or boat sale, repair or servicing; trucking or commercial storage; sawmills; industrial or hazardous use; welding; stables, commercial kennels, animal breeding; retail or wholesale of goods not produced on the lot; pawnbrokers and resale outlets; dry cleaning or laundry; restaurants, pubs, assembly or entertainment; cannabis retail.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/105297/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 133, 2016 (PDF, consolidated to April 1, 2025)","section":"s. 5.18(f)","quotes":["f) not involve any of the following uses or associated activities:","v. welding;","vii. retail or wholesale of goods not produced on the lot;","xi. cannabis retail."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"District of Clearwater Zoning Bylaw No. 133, 2016, s. 5.18; Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 124, 2014","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/105297/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 133, 2016 (PDF, consolidated to April 1, 2025)","section":"cover","quotes":["ZONING BYLAW NO. 133, 2016"]},{"url":"https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/56496/","title":"Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 124, 2014 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 224, 2019)","section":"s. 1.1","quotes":["District of Clearwater Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 124, 2014"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":5,"stated":5,"matched":5,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nThe [Zoning Bylaw No. 133](https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/105297/) allows a home based business as an accessory use in the RL-1, SH-1, CR-1, R-1, R-2, R-3, MHP-1 and MX-1 zones. In the R-3 zone there may be no non-resident employees and no customers at the premises.\n\nA home based business is an occupation, craft or profession carried out primarily by residents as an accessory use. Under section 5.18 it must:\n- be carried on inside the dwelling\n- have no more than one non-resident full-time employee or two part-time\n- make no exterior change to the building except a sign\n- have no outside storage or operations (except greenhouse, agriculture and nursery)\n- cause no noise, dust, smell or nuisance\n- provide 1 customer parking space\n\nNot allowed as a home based business: vehicle, engine, heavy equipment, trailer or boat sale, repair or servicing; trucking or commercial storage; sawmills; industrial or hazardous use; welding; stables, commercial kennels and animal breeding; retail or wholesale of goods not produced on the lot; pawnbrokers and resale outlets; dry cleaning or laundry; restaurants, pubs, assembly or entertainment; and cannabis retail.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Confirm your zone allows it (see the zoning-lookup answer).\n2. Complete the Business Licence Application and return it with the fee to 209 Dutch Lake Road, or email admin@docbc.ca.\n3. Anyone carrying on a business in the District must hold a licence under the [Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 124](https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/56496/).\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Child care or preschool as a home based business is allowed up to 10 children and needs onsite parking (s. 5.19).\n- We found no limit on floor area.\n- Bylaw 124 is consolidated only to 2019, so the fee may have changed. Confirm with the District.","sources":[{"url":"https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/105297/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 133, 2016 (PDF, consolidated to April 1, 2025)","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/56496/","title":"Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 124, 2014 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 224, 2019)","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.districtofclearwater.com/business-services/business-licenses/","title":"Business Licenses, District of Clearwater","accessed":"2026-11-08"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-08","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 5 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/clearwater/home-based-business/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/clearwater/home-based-business.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/clearwater/home-based-business.json"}}