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

# Gold River home-based business rules

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

**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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Village of Gold River, https://goldriver.ca)  
**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:**
- In person: Municipal Hall, 499 Muchalat Drive, Gold River, BC V0P 1G0 (Office hours are not stated on the Village's website.)
- Phone: Village Hall, 250-283-2202

## Key facts

- **Allowed:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 761, 2025, s. 6.1.4](https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Bylaw-No-761-2025-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "6.1.3 - Bed and breakfast accommodation 6.1.4 - Home occupations 6.1.5 - Childcare and nursery schools accessory to a residential use"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 761, 2025, s. 8.1.2](https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Bylaw-No-761-2025-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "8.1 Permitted Uses 8.1.1 - one duplex 8.1.2 - home occupations 8.2 Conditions of Use 8.2.1 - Lot Area"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 761, 2025, s. 11.1.2](https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Bylaw-No-761-2025-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 761, 2025, s. 7.1.4, 10.1.2, 12.1.2, 13.1.4, 20.1.6](https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Bylaw-No-761-2025-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 761, 2025, s. 4.12.1](https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Bylaw-No-761-2025-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "The home occupation use must be conducted in accordance with the" … "Village of Gold River Business Licence Bylaw."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Business licence:** 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.
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 735, 2021, s. 7.j](https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Bylaw-No-735-2021-Business-Licence-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Fees for all home based business shall be charged by the appropriate fee class."
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 734, 2021, Schedule G](https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Bylaw-No-734-2021-Fees-and-Charges-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "and Research Facility Retail/wholesale cannabis or cannabis products $2,000 Special Event $150/day All other business $75"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Limits:** 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.
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 735, 2021, s. 7](https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Bylaw-No-735-2021-Business-Licence-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 761, 2025, s. 4.12.2](https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Bylaw-No-761-2025-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "limited to 25% of the floor area" … "of the principal residence or 55.0 sq. meters, whichever is less."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Businesses not allowed:** 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.
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 735, 2021, s. 7.d](https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Bylaw-No-735-2021-Business-Licence-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "shall not generate any vibrations, smoke, dust, odours,"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 761, 2025, s. 4.2.2(3)](https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Bylaw-No-761-2025-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "The following uses are prohibited in all zones under this Bylaw, unless" … "retail or wholesale or distribution of cannabis or cannabis products;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Business Licence Bylaw No. 735, 2021, s. 7 (Home Based Business); Zoning Bylaw No. 761, 2025, s. 4.12 (Home Occupation Regulations)
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 735, 2021, s. 7](https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Bylaw-No-735-2021-Business-Licence-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "7. HOME BASED BUSINESS"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 761, 2025, s. 4.12](https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Bylaw-No-761-2025-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "4.12 HOME OCCUPATION REGULATIONS"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

Under [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).

## Limits

- Floor area: at most 55 m² or 25% of the dwelling's total floor area, whichever is less.
- 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 the Sign Bylaw permits.
- No vibrations, smoke, dust, odours, interference, heat or glare offensive within 200 m.
- 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.

## Good to know

- Retail or wholesale cannabis and cannabis growing are prohibited in all zones unless explicitly permitted.
- Renew each January 1; a renewal more than 30 days late costs an extra $150.
- Call 250-283-2202 to check your zone first.

## Official forms and pages

- [Application for a Business Licence (PDF)](https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Busines-Licence-Fillable.pdf)
- [Business Licence Bylaw No. 735, 2021 (PDF)](https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Bylaw-No-735-2021-Business-Licence-Bylaw.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Gold River business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gold-river/business-licence.md)
- [Gold River short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gold-river/short-term-rental.md)
- [Gold River zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gold-river/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)
- [Tahsis](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tahsis/home-based-business.md)
- [Campbell River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/home-based-business.md)
- [Tofino](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/home-based-business.md)
- [Sayward](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sayward/home-based-business.md)
- [Cumberland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/home-based-business.md)
- [Courtenay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/home-based-business.md)

## Sources

- [Business Licence Bylaw No. 735, 2021 (PDF), Village of Gold River](https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Bylaw-No-735-2021-Business-Licence-Bylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 761, 2025 (PDF), Village of Gold River](https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Bylaw-No-761-2025-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 734, 2021 (PDF), Village of Gold River](https://goldriver.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Bylaw-No-734-2021-Fees-and-Charges-Bylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Permits and Licences, Village of Gold River](https://goldriver.ca/municipal-services/permits-and-licences/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Contact, Village of Gold River](https://goldriver.ca/village-hall/contact/) (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 Village of Gold River. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gold-river/home-based-business/_