{"title":"Hope home-based business rules","question":"Can I run a business from my home in Hope?","slug":"home-based-business","place":{"path":"ca/bc/hope","name":"Hope","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":"District of Hope","url":"https://www.hope.ca"},"short_answer":"Yes, in Hope, as an accessory use in the RS-1 zone, rural zones L-1, AG-1, RU-1 and CR-1, and multi-family zones such as RM-1 and RM-2, under the conditions in section 8.6 of the Zoning Bylaw. You also need a District business licence ($150 a year).","aliases":["home business hope bc","home occupation hope","business from home hope","home based business licence hope"],"cost":"Business licence $150 a year (the highest fee applies if the business fits more than one category). The fee schedule has no separate home-based category.","how_long":"A complete licence application is typically processed in 10 to 14 business days.","where":[{"type":"email","label":"Business licences and general inquiries","value":"info@hope.ca"},{"type":"phone","label":"Municipal Hall","value":"604-869-5671"},{"type":"in_person","label":"Municipal Hall","value":"325 Wallace Street, Hope, BC V0X 1L0"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Business Licence Information, District of Hope","url":"https://hope.ca/business-licence-information"},{"title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012 (PDF)","url":"https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/86966/ConsolidatedMar202025COMBINED_UDXvHH.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"business-licence","title":"Hope business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hope/business-licence/"},{"slug":"short-term-rental","title":"Hope short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hope/short-term-rental/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Hope zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hope/zoning-lookup/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/kent","name":"Kent","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kent/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/harrison-hot-springs","name":"Harrison Hot Springs","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/harrison-hot-springs/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/chilliwack","name":"Chilliwack","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chilliwack/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/princeton","name":"Princeton","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/princeton/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/abbotsford","name":"Abbotsford","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/mission","name":"Mission","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mission/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 the Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing (RS-1) zone and the rural zones L-1, AG-1, RU-1 and CR-1, and in multi-family zones such as RM-1 and RM-2, always subject to the conditions in s. 8.6.","short":"Yes, in listed zones as an accessory use","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/86966/ConsolidatedMar202025COMBINED_UDXvHH.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012, consolidated to March 20, 2025 (PDF), District of Hope","section":"s. 10.1.2","quotes":["Home based business, subject to Section 8.6.2."]},{"url":"https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/86966/ConsolidatedMar202025COMBINED_UDXvHH.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012, consolidated to March 20, 2025 (PDF), District of Hope","section":"s. 8.6.1, 8.6.3","quotes":["All home based businesses in the Residential Multi-Family Zones RM-1, RM-2, MHP-1, CD-5, CD-6","All home based business in the Rural Zones L-1, AG-1, RU-1. CR-1"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"licence":{"label":"Business licence","value":"Yes. Every owner or operator of a business in the District must hold a business licence, including home-based businesses. The standard business licence fee is $150 a year; if a business fits more than one category the highest fee applies.","short":"Yes: $150 a year","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/86962/Business%20Licence%20Bylaw%20%28FEB%202019%29%281%29.pdf","title":"Business Licence Bylaw No. 1124, 2003, consolidated to February 2019 (PDF), District of Hope","section":"s. 3(a), s. 32","quotes":["Every owner or operator of a business in the Municipality shall hold a valid","Where a business, including home occupation, has more than one use touching"]},{"url":"https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/86974/Fees_Charges_Bylaw","title":"Fees & Charges Bylaw No. 1363, 2015, Schedule B, District of Hope","section":"Schedule B","quotes":["Business Licence Bylaw and/or amendments. CATEGORIES FEE Business Licence $150.00 Automatic Teller Machines (in locations other than $30.00 financial institutions)"]},{"url":"https://hope.ca/business-licence-information","title":"Business Licence Information, District of Hope","section":"Business Licence Information","quotes":["operating a home-based or mobile business"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"limits":{"label":"Limits","value":"RS-1 and other single or two-family zones: 2 people (1 living there); up to one third of the dwelling floor area; no outdoor storage; signs only as the Sign Bylaw allows; 1 customer parking space. Rural zones: 3 people (1 living there); accessory building up to 400 m²; screened outdoor storage; 1 space per employee plus 1 customer space.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/86966/ConsolidatedMar202025COMBINED_UDXvHH.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012, consolidated to March 20, 2025 (PDF), District of Hope","section":"s. 8.6.2","quotes":["no more than 2 persons of which 1 must reside","must not exceed one third of the floor area of the dwelling unit","shall not exceed 10% of the total site coverage on the same parcel","no outdoor storage associated with the home based business shall be permitted on the parcel on","1 parking space per employee, plus","1 customer parking space","no more than 3 persons of which 1 must reside"]},{"url":"https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/86966/ConsolidatedMar202025COMBINED_UDXvHH.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012, consolidated to March 20, 2025 (PDF), District of Hope","section":"s. 8.6.3","quotes":["no more than 3 persons of which 1 must reside","not exceeding a floor area of 400 square metres","outdoor storage of materials, products and equipment associated with the home based business shall be"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"not_allowed":{"label":"Businesses not allowed","value":"No complete list of banned types. No home business may use materials or products that produce inflammable or explosive vapours, smoke, noxious gases or fumes. Commercial vehicle repairs or maintenance, vehicle sales and storage of wrecked vehicles are not allowed on parcels in residential zones.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/86966/ConsolidatedMar202025COMBINED_UDXvHH.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012, consolidated to March 20, 2025 (PDF), District of Hope","section":"s. 8.6.2(g), s. 5.6.3","quotes":["no home based business may utilize materials or products that produce inflammable or explosive","No vehicle repairs or maintenance of a commercial nature, vehicle sales, or storage of wrecked"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012, s. 8.6 (consolidated to March 20, 2025); Business Licence Bylaw No. 1124, 2003","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/86966/ConsolidatedMar202025COMBINED_UDXvHH.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012, consolidated to March 20, 2025 (PDF), District of Hope","section":"s. 8.6","quotes":["HOME BASED BUSINESS","ZONING BYLAW NO. 1324, 2012"]},{"url":"https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/86962/Business%20Licence%20Bylaw%20%28FEB%202019%29%281%29.pdf","title":"Business Licence Bylaw No. 1124, 2003, consolidated to February 2019 (PDF), District of Hope","section":"Title","quotes":["BUSINESS LICENCE BYLAW NO. 1124"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":5,"stated":5,"matched":5,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nSection 8.6 of the [Zoning Bylaw No. 1324](<https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/86966/ConsolidatedMar202025COMBINED_UDXvHH.pdf>) sets the conditions. Every business in Hope, including a home-based one, also needs a licence under the [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1124](<https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/86962/Business%20Licence%20Bylaw%20%28FEB%202019%29%281%29.pdf>). The licence year runs January 1 to December 31.\n\n| Zone | People | Space | Other |\n|---|---|---|---|\n| RS-1 and other single or two-family zones | 2 (1 living there) | Up to one third of the dwelling floor area | No outdoor storage; signs only as the Sign Bylaw allows; 1 customer parking space |\n| Rural zones | 3 (1 living there) | Accessory building up to 400 m² | Screened outdoor storage; 1 space per employee plus 1 customer space |\n| Multi-family zones | Not stated | Solely within the dwelling unit | No outdoor storage; no more traffic than the dwelling alone |\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Check your zone with Planning (planning@hope.ca or 604-869-5671).\n2. Complete the Business Licence Application Form and submit it to the District (info@hope.ca). Planning, Bylaw, Fire and Corporate Services review it.\n3. Pay the licence fee. See the business-licence answer.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- No home business may use materials or products that produce inflammable or explosive vapours, smoke, noxious gases or fumes.\n- Commercial vehicle repairs or maintenance, vehicle sales and storage of wrecked vehicles are not allowed on parcels in residential zones.\n- There is no complete list of banned business types. Rural parcels below the zone's minimum lot area follow the RS-1 conditions.","sources":[{"url":"https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/86966/ConsolidatedMar202025COMBINED_UDXvHH.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1324, 2012, consolidated to March 20, 2025 (PDF), District of Hope","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/86962/Business%20Licence%20Bylaw%20%28FEB%202019%29%281%29.pdf","title":"Business Licence Bylaw No. 1124, 2003, consolidated to February 2019 (PDF), District of Hope","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://hope.ca/uploads/dm/86974/Fees_Charges_Bylaw","title":"Fees & Charges Bylaw No. 1363, 2015, Schedule B, District of Hope","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://hope.ca/business-licence-information","title":"Business Licence Information, District of Hope","accessed":"2026-11-06"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-06","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/hope/home-based-business/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hope/home-based-business.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hope/home-based-business.json"}}