--- title: Greenwood home-based business rules question: "Can I run a business from my home?" place: Greenwood, British Columbia, Canada place_path: ca/bc/greenwood category: Starting and running a business owner: municipal owner_body: City of Greenwood sources_read: 2026-11-05 review: machine_checked canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/greenwood/home-based-business/" json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/greenwood/home-based-business.json" --- # Greenwood home-based business rules **Question:** Can I run a business from my home? **Short answer:** Yes. Greenwood's Zoning Bylaw 683, 1997 allows home occupations in the R1, R1A, R2 and RU zones, with limits on size, signs, employees and nuisances. The City's licence form asks if a business is home based, so expect to need a business licence; confirm with City Hall at 250-445-6644. **Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Greenwood, https://www.greenwoodcity.com) **Cost:** The City's page lists a regular business licence at $100 plus a $50 application fee. No separate home-based fee is stated. **How long:** Not stated on the City's website. **Where:** - Online: Business Licence Application Form, https://forms.greenwoodcity.com/Business-Licence-Application-Form - Phone: City Hall, 250-445-6644 - Email: City Hall reception, reception@greenwoodcity.ca ## Key facts - **Allowed:** Yes. Home occupations are a permitted use in the R1 (and R1A), R2 and RU zones. - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 683, 1997, s. 402.2, 403.2, 410.2](https://media-002-ca.cdn.govstack.com/greenwoodcity-013-ca/media/kd3p3rea/zoning-bylaw-no-683-1997.pdf) - Official wording: "- 19 -" … "402. Residential 1 Zone (Single and Two Family) R1 402.1 Subject to compliance with the General Provisions in Part 3, the following provisions shall apply in the Residential 1 Zone. 402.2 Permitted Uses (1) Single family dwellings; (2) Two family dwellings and semi-detached dwelling; (3) Home occupations;" … "403. Residential 2 Zone (Mobile Home Subdivision) R2 403.1 Subject to compliance with the General Provisions in Part 3, the following provisions shall apply in the Residential 2 Zone. 403.2 Permitted Uses (1) Mobile homes; (2) Home occupations;" … "shall apply in the Rural Zone. 410.2 Permitted Uses (1) Agricultural uses (excluding intensive agricultural uses); (2) Cemeteries; (3) Resource uses; (4) Kennels and animal shelters provided they do not include any outside animal enclosures or runs; (5) Rodeo and gymkhana grounds; (6) Single family dwellings; (7) Mobile homes; (8) Home occupations;" … "*402A. Residential 1A Zone (Single & Two Family) R1A 402A.1 Subject to compliance with the General Provisions in Part 3, the following provisions shall apply in the Residential 1A Zone. 402A.2 Permitted Uses (1) All uses permitted in the Residential 1 Zone." - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Business licence:** The City's licence form asks whether a business is home based, so a licence is expected. Regular business licence fee is $100 plus a $50 application fee; no separate home-based fee is stated. - Source: [Business Licence Application Form, Section 2](https://forms.greenwoodcity.com/Business-Licence-Application-Form) - Official wording: "Is the business home based?" - Source: [Forms & Permits, Permits & Fees](https://www.greenwoodcity.com/services/forms-permits/) - Official wording: "The Regular Business License Fee in the City of Greenwood shall be $100.00." … "shall pay $50 at the time of application." - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Limits:** Entirely inside enclosed buildings, including storage. Uses no more than 25% of the dwelling's floor area (even in an accessory building). Only residents may be employed. No exterior evidence except one non-illuminated sign up to 1 m². No vibration, noise, heat, glare or radiation detectable beyond the lot; no odours, toxic matter, electrical interference or traffic congestion. No customer or parking rule found. - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 683, 1997, s. 306](https://media-002-ca.cdn.govstack.com/greenwoodcity-013-ca/media/kd3p3rea/zoning-bylaw-no-683-1997.pdf) - Official wording: "be conducted entirely within one or more wholly enclosed building, including all" … "not occupy an area greater than 25 percent of the floor area of the dwelling unit" … "employ only residents of the dwelling within which the occupation is being" … "one non-illuminated name" … "produce no odours, toxic or noxious matter or any electrical interference or traffic" … "generate no vibration, noise, heat, glare or radiation detectable from beyond the" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Businesses not allowed:** Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read. - **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw No. 683, 1997, s. 306 (Home Occupation); Business Licence Bylaw No. 1016, 2024 - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 683, 1997, s. 306](https://media-002-ca.cdn.govstack.com/greenwoodcity-013-ca/media/kd3p3rea/zoning-bylaw-no-683-1997.pdf) - Official wording: "(3) Open fencing shall not be restricted as to height or location. 306. Home Occupation (a) be conducted entirely within one or more wholly enclosed building, including all" … "THE CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF GREENWOOD ZONING BYLAW NO. 683, 1997 A Bylaw to regulate the location and use of buildings and" - Source: [Business Licence Application Form, Note](https://forms.greenwoodcity.com/Business-Licence-Application-Form) - Official wording: "Business Licences Bylaw # 1016, 2024" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 ## How it works [Zoning Bylaw No. 683, 1997](https://media-002-ca.cdn.govstack.com/greenwoodcity-013-ca/media/kd3p3rea/zoning-bylaw-no-683-1997.pdf) section 306 allows home occupations in the R1 (and R1A), R2 and RU zones. A home occupation must: - be entirely inside enclosed buildings, including storage; - use no more than 25% of the dwelling's floor area, even in an accessory building; - employ only residents; - show no exterior evidence except one non-illuminated sign up to 1 m²; - cause no vibration, noise, heat, glare or radiation detectable beyond the lot; and - cause no odours, toxic matter, electrical interference or traffic congestion. No customer or parking rule was found. ## Steps 1. Confirm with City Hall that your lot's zone allows a home occupation. 2. Complete the Business Licence Application Form. It asks whether the business is home based. ## Good to know - Business Licence Bylaw No. 1016 could not be read, so the licence requirement is expected from the form rather than confirmed. ## Official forms and pages - [Zoning Bylaw No. 683, 1997, section 306 Home Occupation (PDF)](https://media-002-ca.cdn.govstack.com/greenwoodcity-013-ca/media/kd3p3rea/zoning-bylaw-no-683-1997.pdf) - [Business Licence Application Form](https://forms.greenwoodcity.com/Business-Licence-Application-Form) ## Related questions - [Greenwood business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/greenwood/business-licence.md) ## The same question elsewhere - [Home-based business rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/home-based-business.md) - [Midway](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/midway/home-based-business.md) - [Grand Forks](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/grand-forks/home-based-business.md) - [Osoyoos](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/osoyoos/home-based-business.md) - [Rossland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/rossland/home-based-business.md) - [Oliver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oliver/home-based-business.md) - [Warfield](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/warfield/home-based-business.md) ## Sources - [Zoning Bylaw No. 683, 1997 (PDF), City of Greenwood](https://media-002-ca.cdn.govstack.com/greenwoodcity-013-ca/media/kd3p3rea/zoning-bylaw-no-683-1997.pdf) (read 2026-11-05) - [Business Licence Application Form, City of Greenwood](https://forms.greenwoodcity.com/Business-Licence-Application-Form) (read 2026-11-05) - [Forms & Permits, City of Greenwood](https://www.greenwoodcity.com/services/forms-permits/) (read 2026-11-05) _Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 4 of 5 facts was matched to the official text; 1 could not be confirmed. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Greenwood. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/greenwood/home-based-business/_