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

# Clearwater home-based business rules

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

**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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Clearwater, https://www.districtofclearwater.com)  
**Cost:** Business licence for a home based business: $100 a year, halved for a licence obtained after July 31.  
**How long:** Not stated.  
**Where:**
- In person: District of Clearwater office, 209 Dutch Lake Road, Clearwater, BC V0E 1N0 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)
- Phone: District of Clearwater office, 250-674-2257
- Email: District of Clearwater office, admin@docbc.ca

## Key facts

- **Allowed:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 133, 2016 (PDF, consolidated to April 1, 2025), s. 5.18; zones](https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/105297/)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Business licence:** 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.
  - Source: [Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 124, 2014 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 224, 2019), s. 3.1; Schedule A, category 5 and s. 2(a)](https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/56496/)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Limits:** 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).
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 133, 2016 (PDF, consolidated to April 1, 2025), s. 5.18(a)-(e); Table 3](https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/105297/)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Businesses not allowed:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 133, 2016 (PDF, consolidated to April 1, 2025), s. 5.18(f)](https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/105297/)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** District of Clearwater Zoning Bylaw No. 133, 2016, s. 5.18; Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 124, 2014
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 133, 2016 (PDF, consolidated to April 1, 2025), cover](https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/105297/)
  - Official wording: "ZONING BYLAW NO. 133, 2016"
  - Source: [Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 124, 2014 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 224, 2019), s. 1.1](https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/56496/)
  - Official wording: "District of Clearwater Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 124, 2014"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The [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.

A home based business is an occupation, craft or profession carried out primarily by residents as an accessory use. Under section 5.18 it must:
- be carried on inside the dwelling
- have no more than one non-resident full-time employee or two part-time
- make no exterior change to the building except a sign
- have no outside storage or operations (except greenhouse, agriculture and nursery)
- cause no noise, dust, smell or nuisance
- provide 1 customer parking space

Not 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.

## Steps

1. Confirm your zone allows it (see the zoning-lookup answer).
2. Complete the Business Licence Application and return it with the fee to 209 Dutch Lake Road, or email admin@docbc.ca.
3. 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/).

## Good to know

- Child care or preschool as a home based business is allowed up to 10 children and needs onsite parking (s. 5.19).
- We found no limit on floor area.
- Bylaw 124 is consolidated only to 2019, so the fee may have changed. Confirm with the District.

## Official forms and pages

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 133, 2016, s. 5.18 (consolidated)](https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/105297/)
- [Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 124, 2014 (consolidated)](https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/56496/)
- [Business Licence Application (PDF)](https://www.districtofclearwater.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Business-Licence-Application-2025.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Clearwater business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/clearwater/business-licence.md)
- [Clearwater short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/clearwater/short-term-rental.md)
- [Clearwater zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/clearwater/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)
- [Barriere](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/barriere/home-based-business.md)
- [Sun Peaks](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sun-peaks/home-based-business.md)
- [100 Mile House](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/100-mile-house/home-based-business.md)
- [Kamloops](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kamloops/home-based-business.md)
- [Sicamous](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sicamous/home-based-business.md)
- [Clinton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/clinton/home-based-business.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 133, 2016 (PDF, consolidated to April 1, 2025)](https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/105297/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 124, 2014 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 224, 2019)](https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/56496/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Business Licenses, District of Clearwater](https://www.districtofclearwater.com/business-services/business-licenses/) (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 Clearwater. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/clearwater/home-based-business/_