Gold River home-based business rules

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

Gold River, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-08

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.

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

How it works

Under Zoning Bylaw No. 761, 2025, 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, 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

The same question in other places

Tahsis · Campbell River · Tofino · Sayward · Cumberland · Courtenay

Home-based business rules in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

Business Licence Bylaw No. 735, 2021 (PDF), Village of Gold River (read 2026-11-08)
Zoning Bylaw No. 761, 2025 (PDF), Village of Gold River (read 2026-11-08)
Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 734, 2021 (PDF), Village of Gold River (read 2026-11-08)
Permits and Licences, Village of Gold River (read 2026-11-08)
Contact, Village of Gold River (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. How answers are checked.