--- title: Golden home-based business rules question: "Can I run a business from my home?" place: Golden, British Columbia, Canada place_path: ca/bc/golden category: Starting and running a business owner: municipal owner_body: Town of Golden sources_read: 2026-11-08 review: machine_checked canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/golden/home-based-business/" json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/golden/home-based-business.json" --- # Golden home-based business rules **Question:** Can I run a business from my home? **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. **Who handles it:** Municipal (Town of Golden, https://www.golden.ca) **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:** - Phone: Business licences, 250-344-2271 ext. 238 - Online: Business Licences, Town of Golden, https://www.golden.ca/business-development/business-licences - In person: Town Hall, 810 9th Ave. South, Golden, BC ## Key facts - **Allowed:** 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. - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1294, 2011, Definitions](https://www.golden.ca/sites/default/files/2022-01/Bylaw-No-1294%2C-2011-ToG-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf) - Official wording: "require avalid Business License issued by the Town." … "Home Based Business Class One or Two" … "Home Based Business Class One" - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1294, 2011, Schedule C (R1S)](https://www.golden.ca/sites/default/files/2022-01/Bylaw-No-1294%2C-2011-ToG-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf) - Official wording: "Home Based Business Class One or Two" - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1294, 2011, Schedule G (R3)](https://www.golden.ca/sites/default/files/2022-01/Bylaw-No-1294%2C-2011-ToG-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf) - Official wording: "Home Based Business Class One" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 - **Business licence:** Yes. A home based business needs a valid Town business licence. Bylaw 990 Schedule A lists "Home Occupation" under Miscellaneous at $70 a year. - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1294, 2011, Definitions](https://www.golden.ca/sites/default/files/2022-01/Bylaw-No-1294%2C-2011-ToG-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf) - Official wording: "require avalid Business License issued by the Town." - Source: [Business Licences, Fees](https://www.golden.ca/business-development/business-licences) - Official wording: "Any person owning or operating a business within The Town of Golden is required to hold a valid business licence" - Source: [Business Licencing Bylaw No. 990, Schedule A item 13](https://golden.civicweb.net/document/64410/) - Official wording: "- Heliskiing - Home Occupation" … "not previously mentioned or listed in this category $ 70.00" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 - **Limits:** 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. - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1294, 2011, s. 9.4(2)](https://www.golden.ca/sites/default/files/2022-01/Bylaw-No-1294%2C-2011-ToG-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf) - Official wording: "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;" - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1294, 2011, s. 9.4(3)](https://www.golden.ca/sites/default/files/2022-01/Bylaw-No-1294%2C-2011-ToG-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf) - Official wording: "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" - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1294, 2011, s. 9.4(1)](https://www.golden.ca/sites/default/files/2022-01/Bylaw-No-1294%2C-2011-ToG-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf) - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 - **Businesses not allowed:** 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. - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1294, 2011, s. 9.4(3)(f)](https://www.golden.ca/sites/default/files/2022-01/Bylaw-No-1294%2C-2011-ToG-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf) - Official wording: "not involve Retail sales or display of products not produced on the premises," - Source: [Zoning Bylaw Excerpts, B&B and short-term rental, s. 9.2(1)(g)](https://www.golden.ca/sites/default/files/2024-04/Zoning%20Bylaw%20Excerpts%20BnB%20STR.pdf) - Official wording: "not be permitted on a Lot where a Child Care, Home; Home Based Business Class" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 - **Bylaw:** Town of Golden Zoning Bylaw No. 1294, 2011 (s. 9.4 Home Based Business); Town of Golden Business Licencing Bylaw No. 990 - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1294, 2011, s. 9.4](https://www.golden.ca/sites/default/files/2022-01/Bylaw-No-1294%2C-2011-ToG-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf) - Official wording: "9.4 Home Based Business" - Source: [Business Licences, Fees](https://www.golden.ca/business-development/business-licences) - Official wording: "Town of Golden Business Licencing Bylaw No. 990" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 ## How it works Home based businesses are regulated by section 9.4 of the [Zoning Bylaw No. 1294, 2011](). A home based business is an accessory use in a dwelling and needs a valid Town business licence. - **Class One or Two** is allowed in R1S, R1D, R2, R2A, R5, R6, R7, C5 and CD-2. - **Class One only** is allowed in R3, R4, C1, C2 and C3. Commercial and other zones list the classes separately; only the residential zones were checked. Class 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. ## Steps 1. Confirm your zone and which class is allowed (see the zoning-lookup answer). 2. Check the limits above for your class. 3. Apply for a business licence (see the business-licence answer). ## Good to know - Both classes: no outdoor storage, and one commercial vehicle up to 5,600 kg. - 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. - 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. - The bylaw lists no banned types of business. - The posted zoning bylaw does not merge later amendments, so check with Development Services. ## Official forms and pages - [Business Licences, Town of Golden](https://www.golden.ca/business-development/business-licences) - [Zoning Bylaw No. 1294, 2011 (PDF)](https://www.golden.ca/sites/default/files/2022-01/Bylaw-No-1294%2C-2011-ToG-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf) ## Related questions - [Golden business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/golden/business-licence.md) - [Golden zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/golden/zoning-lookup.md) - [Golden short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/golden/short-term-rental.md) - [Golden secondary suite and carriage house rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/golden/secondary-suite.md) ## The same question elsewhere - [Home-based business rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/home-based-business.md) - [Revelstoke](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/revelstoke/home-based-business.md) - [Radium Hot Springs](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/radium-hot-springs/home-based-business.md) - [Invermere](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/invermere/home-based-business.md) - [Nakusp](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nakusp/home-based-business.md) - [New Denver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-denver/home-based-business.md) - [Sicamous](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sicamous/home-based-business.md) ## Sources - [Zoning Bylaw No. 1294, 2011 (PDF)](https://www.golden.ca/sites/default/files/2022-01/Bylaw-No-1294%2C-2011-ToG-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-08) - [Business Licences, Town of Golden](https://www.golden.ca/business-development/business-licences) (read 2026-11-08) - [Business Licencing Bylaw No. 990 (PDF)](https://golden.civicweb.net/document/64410/) (read 2026-11-08) - [Zoning Bylaw Excerpts, B&B and short-term rental (PDF)](https://www.golden.ca/sites/default/files/2024-04/Zoning%20Bylaw%20Excerpts%20BnB%20STR.pdf) (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 Town of Golden. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/golden/home-based-business/_