---
title: Creston home-based business rules
question: "Can I run a business from my home in Creston?"
place: Creston, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/creston
category: Starting and running a business
owner: municipal
owner_body: Town of Creston
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/creston/home-based-business/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/creston/home-based-business.json"
---

# Creston home-based business rules

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

**Short answer:** Yes. In Creston a home occupation is allowed as an accessory use in most residential and commercial zones, with limits by zone. You need a business licence; a home occupation costs $70 a year. Some businesses are not allowed at home.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Town of Creston, https://www.creston.ca)  
**Cost:** Business licence $70 a year for a home occupation, plus any Schedule 4B extra fees.  
**How long:** The Town states no processing time; the licence is not granted until all departments approve.  
**Where:**
- In person: Town Hall, 238 - 10th Ave. N., Creston, BC (Pay in person Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
- Phone: Town Hall, 250-428-2214
- Phone: Business Licences (Town Hall), 250-428-2214 ext. 410
- Online: Business Licences page, https://www.creston.ca/business-licences

## Key facts

- **Allowed:** Yes, as an accessory 'Home occupation' use in the AG, R1, R3, R4, R5, R6, CDC, CG, CHS, CN and CDNW zones, subject to the Zoning Bylaw conditions.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1958, 2022 (PDF, consolidated to June 16, 2026), s. 4.2.1; zone accessory-use lists (7.1.2.2, 7.2.2.2, 7.6.2.2)](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/Zoning-1958.pdf)
  - Official wording: "A Home occupation use, where permitted in a Zone of this Bylaw, must:" … "iv. Detached accessory dwelling unit. v. Home occupation. vi. Short term rental."
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1958, 2022 (PDF, consolidated to June 16, 2026), Table 4.1](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/Zoning-1958.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Table 4.1: Maximum Floor Area and Maximum Number of Non-Residential Employees for a Home occupation"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Business licence:** Yes, a business licence is required for all home occupations. Fee: $70 a year for a home occupation (includes childcare, home offices, bed and breakfasts, personal services), plus any Schedule 4B extra fees.
  - Source: [Business Licences, Business Licences page, Home Occupations](https://www.creston.ca/business-licences)
  - Official wording: "Please note, a business licence is required for all home occupations."
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1763 (PDF, consolidated to May 12, 2026), Schedule 4A](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/Fees%20and%20Charges-1763.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Home Occupation $70.00" … "Includes childcare, home offices, bed and breakfasts, personal services, etc."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Limits:** Table 4.1 by zone: R1 lesser of 60 sq. m. or 25% of the dwelling, 1 non-resident employee; R3 20%, 0; R4, R6 and CDC, CG, CHS, CN 10%, 0; CDNW 10%, 1; R5 112.0 sq. m., 2; AG 185.5 sq. m., 3. One sign; all work and storage enclosed in a building; 1 parking space per employee.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1958, 2022 (PDF, consolidated to June 16, 2026), Table 4.1](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/Zoning-1958.pdf)
  - Official wording: "the lesser of 60 sq. m. or Residential - Low Density (R1) 1 25% of Dwelling unit" … "Residential - Medium Density (R3) 20% of Dwelling unit 0" … "Residential - Rural (R5) 112.0 sq. m. 2" … "Agricultural Land Reserve (AG) 185.5 sq. m. 3" … "Northwest Boulevard Comprehensive" … "be enclosed either within the Principal" … "Home occupation • 1 per Home occupation employee."
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1958, 2022 (PDF, consolidated to June 16, 2026), s. 4.2.1, 4.2.3, 4.2.6](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/Zoning-1958.pdf)
  - Official wording: "not give any exterior indication of its existence except by one (1) sign" … "not involve frequent or regular delivery of materials by a commercial vehicle;" … "A Home occupation involving the sale of a commodity or goods not produced on the Lot is not permitted."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Businesses not allowed:** Salvage, repair, maintenance or sales of motor vehicles, recreational vehicles or parts; trucking, hauling or touring; welding or steel fabrication; light or heavy manufacturing; cannabis retail store or cannabis operation.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1958, 2022 (PDF, consolidated to June 16, 2026), s. 4.2.2](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/Zoning-1958.pdf)
  - Official wording: "The following uses are not permitted as Home occupations:" … "trucking, hauling or touring;" … "welding or steel fabrication;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw No. 1958, 2022 (s. 4.2, Table 4.1); Business Licence Bylaw No. 1793, 2017
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1958, 2022 (PDF, consolidated to June 16, 2026), s. 1.1](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/Zoning-1958.pdf)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw may be cited as "Zoning Bylaw No. 1958, 2022"."
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1793, 2017 (PDF, consolidated to December 2, 2025), Part 1](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2025-12/Business%20Licence-1793_0.pdf)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw may be cited as “Business Licence Bylaw No. 1793, 2017”."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The [Zoning Bylaw No. 1958](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/Zoning-1958.pdf) allows a "home occupation" as an accessory use in the AG, R1, R3, R4, R5, R6, CDC, CG, CHS, CN and CDNW zones, subject to s. 4.2 and Table 4.1. A business licence is required for all home occupations (childcare, home offices, bed and breakfasts and personal services are included).

Limits by zone (Table 4.1), as floor area and non-resident employees:

- R1: lesser of 60 sq. m. or 25% of the dwelling; 1 employee
- R3: 20%; 0
- R4, R6, CDC, CG, CHS, CN: 10%; 0
- CDNW: 10%; 1
- R5: 112.0 sq. m.; 2
- AG: 185.5 sq. m.; 3

Employees means people who do not live in the dwelling. Only one sign is allowed, all work and storage must be enclosed in a building, and you need 1 parking space per employee. The business must not cause noise, odour, traffic or hazards.

## Steps

1. Check your zone and the Table 4.1 limits.
2. Talk to zoning, building and health staff, then the Fire Department, as the [Business Licences](https://www.creston.ca/business-licences) page describes.
3. Apply at Town Hall (250-428-2214 ext. 410) and pay $70 a year, plus any Schedule 4B fees. A $20 discount applies to renewals paid by January 31 and to new licences paid within 30 days of approval.

## Good to know

- Not allowed: salvage, repair, maintenance or sales of motor vehicles, recreational vehicles or parts; trucking, hauling or touring; welding or steel fabrication; light or heavy manufacturing; cannabis retail or operations; selling goods not produced on the lot.
- A bed and breakfast is limited to four adults and one extra parking space per guest room (s. 4.2.8).
- The Town's business licence page restates older limits. If they differ from the bylaw, confirm with staff.

## Official forms and pages

- [Business Licences, Town of Creston](https://www.creston.ca/business-licences)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 1958, 2022 (PDF, consolidated to June 16, 2026)](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/Zoning-1958.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Creston business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/creston/business-licence.md)
- [Creston zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/creston/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Creston short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/creston/short-term-rental.md)
- [Creston fence rules: permits and height limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/creston/fence-rules.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Home-based business rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/home-based-business.md)
- [Salmo](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/salmo/home-based-business.md)
- [Kimberley](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kimberley/home-based-business.md)
- [Cranbrook](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cranbrook/home-based-business.md)
- [Fruitvale](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fruitvale/home-based-business.md)
- [Nelson](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nelson/home-based-business.md)
- [Montrose](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/montrose/home-based-business.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 1958, 2022 (PDF, consolidated to June 16, 2026)](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/Zoning-1958.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1793, 2017 (PDF, consolidated to December 2, 2025)](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2025-12/Business%20Licence-1793_0.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Business Licences, Town of Creston](https://www.creston.ca/business-licences) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1763 (PDF, consolidated to May 12, 2026)](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/Fees%20and%20Charges-1763.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Contact Directory, Town of Creston](https://www.creston.ca/contact-directory-0) (read 2026-11-06)

_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 Town of Creston. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/creston/home-based-business/_