{"title":"Golden home-based business rules","question":"Can I run a business from my home?","slug":"home-based-business","place":{"path":"ca/bc/golden","name":"Golden","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":"Town of Golden","url":"https://www.golden.ca"},"short_answer":"In Golden you can run a home based business as an accessory use in your dwelling, as Class One or Class Two depending on your zone. You need a valid Town business licence, which is $70 a year for a home occupation.","aliases":["home business golden bc","home occupation golden","work from home business licence golden","home based business bylaw golden"],"cost":"Business licence: Bylaw 990 Schedule A lists \"Home Occupation\" under Miscellaneous at $70 a year.","how_long":"Not stated. See the business-licence answer for the licence term.","where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Business licences","value":"250-344-2271 ext. 238"},{"type":"online","label":"Business Licences, Town of Golden","value":"https://www.golden.ca/business-development/business-licences"},{"type":"in_person","label":"Town Hall","value":"810 9th Ave. South, Golden, BC"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Business Licences, Town of Golden","url":"https://www.golden.ca/business-development/business-licences"},{"title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1294, 2011 (PDF)","url":"https://www.golden.ca/sites/default/files/2022-01/Bylaw-No-1294%2C-2011-ToG-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"business-licence","title":"Golden business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/golden/business-licence/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Golden zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/golden/zoning-lookup/"},{"slug":"short-term-rental","title":"Golden short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/golden/short-term-rental/"},{"slug":"secondary-suite","title":"Golden secondary suite and carriage house rules","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/golden/secondary-suite/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/revelstoke","name":"Revelstoke","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/revelstoke/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/radium-hot-springs","name":"Radium Hot Springs","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/radium-hot-springs/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/invermere","name":"Invermere","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/invermere/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/nakusp","name":"Nakusp","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nakusp/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/new-denver","name":"New Denver","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-denver/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/sicamous","name":"Sicamous","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sicamous/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, as an accessory use in a dwelling. Class One or Two in R1S, R1D, R2, R2A, R5, R6, R7, C5 and CD-2; Class One only in R3, R4, C1, C2 and C3. A valid Town business licence is required.","short":"Yes, in listed zones (Class One or Two)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.golden.ca/sites/default/files/2022-01/Bylaw-No-1294%2C-2011-ToG-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1294, 2011 (PDF)","section":"Definitions","quotes":["require avalid Business License issued by the Town.","Home Based Business Class One or Two","Home Based Business Class One"]},{"url":"https://www.golden.ca/sites/default/files/2022-01/Bylaw-No-1294%2C-2011-ToG-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1294, 2011 (PDF)","section":"Schedule C (R1S)","quotes":["Home Based Business Class One or Two"]},{"url":"https://www.golden.ca/sites/default/files/2022-01/Bylaw-No-1294%2C-2011-ToG-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1294, 2011 (PDF)","section":"Schedule G (R3)","quotes":["Home Based Business Class One"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"licence":{"label":"Business licence","value":"Yes. A home based business needs a valid Town business licence. Bylaw 990 Schedule A lists \"Home Occupation\" under Miscellaneous at $70 a year.","short":"Yes: $70 a year","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.golden.ca/sites/default/files/2022-01/Bylaw-No-1294%2C-2011-ToG-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1294, 2011 (PDF)","section":"Definitions","quotes":["require avalid Business License issued by the Town."]},{"url":"https://www.golden.ca/business-development/business-licences","title":"Business Licences, Town of Golden","section":"Fees","quotes":["Any person owning or operating a business within The Town of Golden is required to hold a valid business licence"]},{"url":"https://golden.civicweb.net/document/64410/","title":"Business Licencing Bylaw No. 990 (PDF)","section":"Schedule A item 13","quotes":["- Heliskiing                  - Home Occupation","not previously mentioned or listed in this category             $ 70.00"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"limits":{"label":"Limits","value":"Class One: all inside the dwelling, no client visits, no sign, up to 30% of floor area (max 20 m²). Class Two: dwelling or accessory building, one non-resident employee, up to 5 clients a day, 50 m² maximum, one 0.25 m² sign, parking 1 plus 1 per employee. Both: no outdoor storage; one commercial vehicle up to 5,600 kg.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.golden.ca/sites/default/files/2022-01/Bylaw-No-1294%2C-2011-ToG-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1294, 2011 (PDF)","section":"s. 9.4(2)","quotes":["not generate client visits to the site from which the Business is being operated;","not occupy more than 30% of the Net Floor Area of the","up to a maximum area of 20 m2; and","Home Based Business Class 2                 I +1 per employee","not exceed two Home Based Businesses per Lot;"]},{"url":"https://www.golden.ca/sites/default/files/2022-01/Bylaw-No-1294%2C-2011-ToG-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1294, 2011 (PDF)","section":"s. 9.4(3)","quotes":["have up to one nonresident employee;","have a maximum of five clients per day;","shall the combined Net Floor Area used for the Business exceed 50 m2;","be permitted one Sign 0.25m2 in size which shall be located on the"]},{"url":"https://www.golden.ca/sites/default/files/2022-01/Bylaw-No-1294%2C-2011-ToG-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1294, 2011 (PDF)","section":"s. 9.4(1)","quotes":["not involve the Outdoor Storage of any materials used or produced by the","have a maximum of one commercial vehicle, up to 5600kg gtoss vehicle weight"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"not_allowed":{"label":"Businesses not allowed","value":"No list of banned business types. Class Two may not retail or display products not made on the premises (except incidental products and mail, phone or internet sales). A Class Two business cannot share a lot with a bed and breakfast or short-term rental.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.golden.ca/sites/default/files/2022-01/Bylaw-No-1294%2C-2011-ToG-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1294, 2011 (PDF)","section":"s. 9.4(3)(f)","quotes":["not involve Retail sales or display of products not produced on the premises,"]},{"url":"https://www.golden.ca/sites/default/files/2024-04/Zoning%20Bylaw%20Excerpts%20BnB%20STR.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw Excerpts, B&B and short-term rental (PDF)","section":"s. 9.2(1)(g)","quotes":["not be permitted on a Lot where a Child Care, Home; Home Based Business Class"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Town of Golden Zoning Bylaw No. 1294, 2011 (s. 9.4 Home Based Business); Town of Golden Business Licencing Bylaw No. 990","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.golden.ca/sites/default/files/2022-01/Bylaw-No-1294%2C-2011-ToG-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1294, 2011 (PDF)","section":"s. 9.4","quotes":["9.4 Home Based Business"]},{"url":"https://www.golden.ca/business-development/business-licences","title":"Business Licences, Town of Golden","section":"Fees","quotes":["Town of Golden Business Licencing Bylaw No. 990"]}],"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\nHome based businesses are regulated by section 9.4 of the [Zoning Bylaw No. 1294, 2011](<https://www.golden.ca/sites/default/files/2022-01/Bylaw-No-1294%2C-2011-ToG-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf>). A home based business is an accessory use in a dwelling and needs a valid Town business licence.\n\n- **Class One or Two** is allowed in R1S, R1D, R2, R2A, R5, R6, R7, C5 and CD-2.\n- **Class One only** is allowed in R3, R4, C1, C2 and C3.\n\nCommercial and other zones list the classes separately; only the residential zones were checked.\n\nClass One: all inside the dwelling, no client visits, no sign, up to 30% of floor area (maximum 20 m²). Class Two: in the dwelling or an accessory building, one non-resident employee, up to 5 clients a day, 50 m² maximum, one 0.25 m² sign, and parking of 1 plus 1 per employee.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Confirm your zone and which class is allowed (see the zoning-lookup answer).\n2. Check the limits above for your class.\n3. Apply for a business licence (see the business-licence answer).\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Both classes: no outdoor storage, and one commercial vehicle up to 5,600 kg.\n- No more than two home based businesses per lot, and only one of them Class Two. Only the resident operates it; no exterior structural change; no nuisance from noise, smoke, dust, odour or glare.\n- Class Two may not retail or display products not made on the premises, except incidental products and mail, phone or internet sales.\n- A Class Two business cannot share a lot with a bed and breakfast or short-term rental.\n- The bylaw lists no banned types of business.\n- The posted zoning bylaw does not merge later amendments, so check with Development Services.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.golden.ca/sites/default/files/2022-01/Bylaw-No-1294%2C-2011-ToG-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1294, 2011 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.golden.ca/business-development/business-licences","title":"Business Licences, Town of Golden","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://golden.civicweb.net/document/64410/","title":"Business Licencing Bylaw No. 990 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.golden.ca/sites/default/files/2024-04/Zoning%20Bylaw%20Excerpts%20BnB%20STR.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw Excerpts, B&B and short-term rental (PDF)","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/golden/home-based-business/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/golden/home-based-business.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/golden/home-based-business.json"}}