{"title":"Gold River home-based business rules","question":"Can I run a business from my home in Gold River?","slug":"home-based-business","place":{"path":"ca/bc/gold-river","name":"Gold River","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":"Village of Gold River","url":"https://goldriver.ca"},"short_answer":"Yes, in many Gold River zones. Home occupations are permitted in the R-L, R-R, R-M, R-M3, R-H, M.H.P., M.H.S. and CD1 zones, and you need a Village business licence ($75 a year for most businesses). The Business Licence Bylaw limits floor area, employees, client vehicles and hours.","aliases":["home business gold river","home occupation gold river","work from home licence gold river"],"cost":"$75 a year (all other business), under Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 734, 2021, Schedule G.","how_long":"Licences run on the calendar year and are renewed each January 1.","where":[{"type":"in_person","label":"Municipal Hall","value":"499 Muchalat Drive, Gold River, BC V0P 1G0","note":"Office hours are not stated on the Village's website."},{"type":"phone","label":"Village Hall","value":"250-283-2202"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Application for a Business Licence (PDF)","url":"https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Busines-Licence-Fillable.pdf"},{"title":"Business Licence Bylaw No. 735, 2021 (PDF)","url":"https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Bylaw-No-735-2021-Business-Licence-Bylaw.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"business-licence","title":"Gold River business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gold-river/business-licence/"},{"slug":"short-term-rental","title":"Gold River short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gold-river/short-term-rental/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Gold River zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gold-river/zoning-lookup/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/tahsis","name":"Tahsis","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tahsis/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/campbell-river","name":"Campbell River","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/tofino","name":"Tofino","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/sayward","name":"Sayward","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sayward/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/cumberland","name":"Cumberland","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/courtenay","name":"Courtenay","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/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":"Home occupations are a permitted use in the R-L, R-R, R-M, R-M3, R-H, M.H.P., M.H.S. and CD1 zones. The Zoning Bylaw requires home occupations to follow the Business Licence Bylaw.","short":"Yes, in listed zones","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Bylaw-No-761-2025-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 761, 2025 (PDF), Village of Gold River","section":"s. 6.1.4","quotes":["6.1.3 - Bed and breakfast accommodation 6.1.4 - Home occupations 6.1.5 - Childcare and nursery schools accessory to a residential use"]},{"url":"https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Bylaw-No-761-2025-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 761, 2025 (PDF), Village of Gold River","section":"s. 8.1.2","quotes":["8.1 Permitted Uses 8.1.1 - one duplex 8.1.2 - home occupations 8.2 Conditions of Use 8.2.1 - Lot Area"]},{"url":"https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Bylaw-No-761-2025-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 761, 2025 (PDF), Village of Gold River","section":"s. 11.1.2","quotes":["11.1 Permitted Uses 11.1.1 - apartment buildings, single or grouped 11.1.2 - home occupations 11.1.3 - service buildings 11.2 Conditions of Use"]},{"url":"https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Bylaw-No-761-2025-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 761, 2025 (PDF), Village of Gold River","section":"s. 7.1.4, 10.1.2, 12.1.2, 13.1.4, 20.1.6","quotes":["7.1.3 - bed and breakfast accommodation 7.1.4 - home occupations 7.1.5 - childcare and nursery schools that are accessory to a residential use","10.1.1 - a maximum of six rowhouse units per structure 10.1.2 - home occupations 10.1.3 - service buildings","12.1.1 - accessory storage for the use of trailer owners 12.1.2 - home occupations 12.1.3 - manufactured home","13.1.2 - bed and breakfast accommodation 13.1.3 - day care or nursery school 13.1.4 - home occupations 13.2 Conditions of Use 13.2.1 Lot Area","20.1.4 - dwelling - semi-detached 20.1.5 - dwelling - single family 20.1.6 - home occupations 20.1.7 - manufactured home 20.1.8 - secondary suites"]},{"url":"https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Bylaw-No-761-2025-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 761, 2025 (PDF), Village of Gold River","section":"s. 4.12.1","quotes":["The home occupation use must be conducted in accordance with the","Village of Gold River Business Licence Bylaw."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"licence":{"label":"Business licence","value":"Yes. A home based business needs a business licence; fees are charged by the appropriate fee class. The annual fee for 'all other business' is $75.","short":"Yes: $75 a year","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Bylaw-No-735-2021-Business-Licence-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Business Licence Bylaw No. 735, 2021 (PDF), Village of Gold River","section":"s. 7.j","quotes":["Fees for all home based business shall be charged by the appropriate fee class."]},{"url":"https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Bylaw-No-734-2021-Fees-and-Charges-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 734, 2021 (PDF), Village of Gold River","section":"Schedule G","quotes":["and Research Facility Retail/wholesale cannabis or cannabis products $2,000 Special Event $150/day All other business $75"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"limits":{"label":"Limits","value":"Floor area used: at most 55 m² or 25% of the dwelling's total floor area, whichever is less. Only one employee besides the principal. No more than 3 client vehicles parked within 100 m of the dwelling. No noise before 9:00 a.m. or after 5 p.m., Monday to Saturday; open to the public 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. only. No outdoor displays or storage, no accessory buildings, garages or yards used, and no external sign other than one permitted by the Sign Bylaw.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Bylaw-No-735-2021-Business-Licence-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Business Licence Bylaw No. 735, 2021 (PDF), Village of Gold River","section":"s. 7","quotes":["The floor area in a dwelling normally used for or occupied by a home based business","shall not exceed fifty-five (55) square meters, or twenty-five (25) per cent of the Total","No more than one employee (in addition to the principal of the business) shall be","generate the parking of more than 3 motor vehicles","The home occupation shall not generate any noise before 9:00 a.m. or after 5 p.m.","There shall be no exterior displays or storage of materials, equipment, containers or"]},{"url":"https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Bylaw-No-761-2025-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 761, 2025 (PDF), Village of Gold River","section":"s. 4.12.2","quotes":["limited to 25% of the floor area","of the principal residence or 55.0 sq. meters, whichever is less."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"not_allowed":{"label":"Businesses not allowed","value":"Not stated as a list. The bylaw says there may be no external indication of a business, and no vibrations, smoke, dust, odours, interference, heat or glare offensive within 200 m. Retail or wholesale cannabis and cannabis growing are prohibited in all zones unless explicitly permitted.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Bylaw-No-735-2021-Business-Licence-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Business Licence Bylaw No. 735, 2021 (PDF), Village of Gold River","section":"s. 7.d","quotes":["shall not generate any vibrations, smoke, dust, odours,"]},{"url":"https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Bylaw-No-761-2025-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 761, 2025 (PDF), Village of Gold River","section":"s. 4.2.2(3)","quotes":["The following uses are prohibited in all zones under this Bylaw, unless","retail or wholesale or distribution of cannabis or cannabis products;"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Business Licence Bylaw No. 735, 2021, s. 7 (Home Based Business); Zoning Bylaw No. 761, 2025, s. 4.12 (Home Occupation Regulations)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Bylaw-No-735-2021-Business-Licence-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Business Licence Bylaw No. 735, 2021 (PDF), Village of Gold River","section":"s. 7","quotes":["7. HOME BASED BUSINESS"]},{"url":"https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Bylaw-No-761-2025-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 761, 2025 (PDF), Village of Gold River","section":"s. 4.12","quotes":["4.12      HOME OCCUPATION REGULATIONS"]}],"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\nUnder [Zoning Bylaw No. 761, 2025](https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Bylaw-No-761-2025-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf), home occupations are a permitted use in the R-L, R-R, R-M, R-M3, R-H, M.H.P., M.H.S. and CD1 zones, and must follow the Business Licence Bylaw. They are not listed for the R-M2, commercial or industrial zones. A home based business needs a business licence ([Business Licence Bylaw No. 735, 2021](https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Bylaw-No-735-2021-Business-Licence-Bylaw.pdf), s. 7).\n\n## Limits\n\n- Floor area: at most 55 m² or 25% of the dwelling's total floor area, whichever is less.\n- One employee besides the principal.\n- No more than 3 client vehicles parked within 100 m of the dwelling.\n- No noise before 9:00 a.m. or after 5 p.m., Monday to Saturday; open to the public 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. only.\n- No outdoor displays or storage, no accessory buildings, garages or yards used, and no external sign other than one the Sign Bylaw permits.\n- No vibrations, smoke, dust, odours, interference, heat or glare offensive within 200 m.\n- Up to 20% of the floor area may be used to sell goods not produced on site; articles sold must generally be produced on site.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Retail or wholesale cannabis and cannabis growing are prohibited in all zones unless explicitly permitted.\n- Renew each January 1; a renewal more than 30 days late costs an extra $150.\n- Call 250-283-2202 to check your zone first.","sources":[{"url":"https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Bylaw-No-735-2021-Business-Licence-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Business Licence Bylaw No. 735, 2021 (PDF), Village of Gold River","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Bylaw-No-761-2025-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 761, 2025 (PDF), Village of Gold River","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Bylaw-No-734-2021-Fees-and-Charges-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 734, 2021 (PDF), Village of Gold River","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://goldriver.ca/municipal-services/permits-and-licences/","title":"Permits and Licences, Village of Gold River","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://goldriver.ca/village-hall/contact/","title":"Contact, Village of Gold River","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/gold-river/home-based-business/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gold-river/home-based-business.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gold-river/home-based-business.json"}}