{"title":"Coldstream home-based business rules","question":"Can I run a business from my home in Coldstream?","slug":"home-based-business","place":{"path":"ca/bc/coldstream","name":"Coldstream","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 Coldstream","url":"https://www.coldstream.ca"},"short_answer":"Yes. In Coldstream an urban home-based business is permitted in all Residential zones (a home office only in apartments), and a rural one in all Rural zones. It must run from your principal residence, and you need a District business licence.","aliases":["home business coldstream","home based business coldstream","work from home coldstream","home occupation coldstream"],"cost":"A business licence, by class. For example Home Crafts $60, General Business Office $70, Professional Practitioners $110, Unclassified $85.","how_long":"Not stated.","where":[{"type":"online","label":"Business License Application","value":"https://www.coldstream.ca/form/business-license-application"},{"type":"phone","label":"Planning and Development","value":"250-545-5304"},{"type":"email","label":"Planning and Development","value":"planner@coldstream.ca"},{"type":"phone","label":"Bylaw Compliance","value":"250-550-1503"},{"type":"in_person","label":"Municipal Hall","value":"9901 Kalamalka Road, Coldstream, BC V1B 1L6","note":"Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m."}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Business License Application","url":"https://www.coldstream.ca/form/business-license-application"},{"title":"Business Licenses, District of Coldstream","url":"https://www.coldstream.ca/businesslicense"}],"related":[{"slug":"business-licence","title":"Coldstream business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coldstream/business-licence/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Coldstream zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coldstream/zoning-lookup/"},{"slug":"short-term-rental","title":"Coldstream short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coldstream/short-term-rental/"},{"slug":"bylaw-fines","title":"Coldstream bylaw fines and how tickets work","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coldstream/bylaw-fines/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/vernon","name":"Vernon","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vernon/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/lumby","name":"Lumby","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lumby/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/lake-country","name":"Lake Country","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-country/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/spallumcheen","name":"Spallumcheen","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/spallumcheen/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/armstrong","name":"Armstrong","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/armstrong/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/kelowna","name":"Kelowna","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kelowna/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. An urban home-based business is permitted in all Residential zones (limited to a home office in apartments), and a rural one in all Rural zones. It must be accessory to the home and run by the registered owner or a tenant from their principal residence.","short":"Yes, in all residential and rural zones","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://coldstream.civicweb.net/document/104562/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1838, 2024, ss. 301.6 and 301.7, District of Coldstream","section":"ss. 301.6, 301.7","quotes":["A Home-Based Business, Rural is permitted in all Rural zones, provided that:","A Home-Based Business, Urban is permitted in all Residential zones provided that:","the use is restricted to the occupant of the lot, which serves as their Principal Residence and fixed address;","An Urban Home-Based Business use in an Apartment is restricted to the following, with"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"licence":{"label":"Business licence","value":"Yes. A District business licence is required, including for home-based and agricultural businesses. Fees depend on the class, for example Home Crafts $60, General Business Office $70, Professional Practitioners $110, Unclassified $85.","short":"Yes: by class, e.g. $60 home crafts, $110 professional","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://coldstream.civicweb.net/document/104562/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1838, 2024, ss. 301.6 and 301.7, District of Coldstream","section":"s. 301.7(1)(b)","quotes":["the use is permitted under an approved Business Licence issued by the District;"]},{"url":"https://www.coldstream.ca/businesslicense","title":"Business Licenses, District of Coldstream","section":"Business Licenses page","quotes":["If you are operating a business in Coldstream, even a home based or agricultural business, you need to apply for a business license with the District."]},{"url":"https://coldstream.civicweb.net/document/194/","title":"Business Licence Bylaw No. 1021, 1990, District of Coldstream","section":"Sched. A","quotes":["20 240 General Business Office 70.00 25 230 Home Crafts 60.00 30 300 Janitorial/Cleaning Service 70.00","18 130 • Restaurant (licenced) 125.00 20 240 General Business Office 70.00 25 230 Home Crafts 60.00","45 600 • Nightclubs, Lounges 250.00 46 610 • Pubs 250.00 50 615 Photographers 80.00 55 700 Professional Practitioners 110.00","70 1000 Service and Repair 85.00 75 1100 Salesperson 90.00 80 1105 Salon - Barber, Beauty 85.00 90 9999 Unclassified 85.00"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"limits":{"label":"Limits","value":"Urban: up to 47 m², indoors, no outdoor storage, no employees besides owner or tenant, no customers unless the licence allows, noise 50 dBA, 1 parking space. Rural: up to 90 m², 2 employees, no outdoor storage (farm use excepted), 70 dBA, 2 parking spaces. Sign: one window sign, 0.25 m² maximum, not lit.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://coldstream.civicweb.net/document/104562/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1838, 2024, ss. 301.6 and 301.7, District of Coldstream","section":"ss. 301.6, 301.7, 321.5","quotes":["the use must not exceed 47 m2, excluding: (*2)","no employees permitted, except for the registered owner of the lot or a tenant of the Dwelling Unit;","no customers or clients are permitted on the premises in conjunction with the use.","a noise decibel limit not exceeding 50 DBA for an 8-hour period or less;","the use does not have more than 2 employees;","the use does not exceed 90 m2 within:","(a) 1 parking space for Home-Based Business, Urban","HOME-BUSINESS SIGNAGE means a window sign advertising a permitted Home-Based Business.","(f)      Home-Business                                           0.25 m2 (*2)"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"not_allowed":{"label":"Businesses not allowed","value":"Not allowed (urban and rural): an industrial use, and repair, sales, maintenance or servicing of motor vehicles. Urban also bars shipping containers for storage. Rural also bars storage and mini-storage of motor vehicles and shipping containers used for mini-storage.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://coldstream.civicweb.net/document/104562/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1838, 2024, ss. 301.6 and 301.7, District of Coldstream","section":"ss. 301.6(1)(i), 301.7(1)(j)","quotes":["an industrial use;","repair, sales, maintenance, and/or servicing of any and all Motor Vehicles; and","the use of a Shipping Container for storage.","storage, mini-storage, repair, sales, maintenance, and/or"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1838, 2024 (ss. 301.6 and 301.7); Business Licence Bylaw No. 1021, 1990","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://coldstream.civicweb.net/document/104562/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1838, 2024, ss. 301.6 and 301.7, District of Coldstream","section":"title","quotes":["Zoning Bylaw No. 1838, 2024"]},{"url":"https://coldstream.civicweb.net/document/194/","title":"Business Licence Bylaw No. 1021, 1990, District of Coldstream","section":"title","quotes":["Business Licence Bylaw No. 1021, 1990"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":5,"stated":5,"matched":5,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nThe [Zoning Bylaw](https://coldstream.civicweb.net/document/104562/) (ss. 301.6 and 301.7) permits an urban home-based business in all Residential zones (limited to a home office in apartments) and a rural one in all Rural zones. It must be accessory to the home and run by the registered owner or a tenant from their principal residence. A tenant needs the registered owner's written permission with the licence application.\n\n| | Urban | Rural |\n|---|---|---|\n| Size | up to 47 m², indoors | up to 90 m² |\n| Employees | none besides owner or tenant | 2 |\n| Outdoor storage | none | none (farm use excepted) |\n| Customers | none unless the licence allows | not stated here |\n| Noise | 50 dBA | 70 dBA |\n| Parking | 1 space | 2 spaces |\n\nSigns: one window sign, 0.25 m² maximum, not lit.\n\nA District business licence is required, including for home-based and agricultural businesses. Fees depend on the class under the [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1021](https://coldstream.civicweb.net/document/194/).\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Check that your zone allows a home-based business.\n2. Make sure your business fits the size, employee, storage, noise and parking limits.\n3. Apply for the business licence using the online form.\n4. Renew each year; licences run January 1 to December 31.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Not allowed in urban or rural settings: an industrial use, and repair, sales, maintenance or servicing of motor vehicles. Urban also bars shipping containers for storage. Rural also bars storage and mini-storage of motor vehicles and shipping containers used for mini-storage.\n- No parking space is required for a home office with no customers or clients on site.\n- One vehicle or cargo trailer up to 6 m long may be stored on the driveway (urban).\n- Licensed childcare has separate rules (up to 90 m², outdoor play area in rear yard).\n- Breaking the home-based business rules: a bylaw notice is $100 ($50 early, $150 late), and a municipal ticket is $125.","sources":[{"url":"https://coldstream.civicweb.net/document/104562/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1838, 2024, ss. 301.6 and 301.7, District of Coldstream","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://coldstream.civicweb.net/document/194/","title":"Business Licence Bylaw No. 1021, 1990, District of Coldstream","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.coldstream.ca/businesslicense","title":"Business Licenses, District of Coldstream","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://coldstream.civicweb.net/document/11456/","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1636, District of Coldstream","accessed":"2026-11-06"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-06","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/coldstream/home-based-business/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coldstream/home-based-business.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coldstream/home-based-business.json"}}