{"title":"Houston home-based business rules","question":"Can I run a business from my home in Houston?","slug":"home-based-business","place":{"path":"ca/bc/houston","name":"Houston","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 Houston","url":"https://houston.ca"},"short_answer":"Yes. Houston permits standard home occupations in zones R1, R2, R3, A1, A2, C1 and C2, with a business licence. Limits include one non-resident employee and up to 30% of the home's floor area (maximum 70 m²). The District's page says one home occupation per property in Rural and Residential zones.","aliases":["home business houston bc","home occupation houston","run a business from home houston","home based business licence houston"],"cost":"District business licence: general $125 a year; artisan (handmade goods, home baking) $60 a year. The fee schedule has no separate home-based class.","how_long":"Not stated.","where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Community Development Department","value":"250-845-2238"},{"type":"email","label":"Community Development email","value":"ecdev@houston.ca"},{"type":"in_person","label":"Municipal Office","value":"3367 12th Street, Houston, BC V0J 1Z0","note":"Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m."}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1225, 2026 (PDF), District of Houston","url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/149520/"},{"title":"Business Licence Bylaw No. 1220, 2025 (PDF), District of Houston","url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/144934/"},{"title":"Bylaw No. 1221, 2025 (PDF), Business Licence Fees, Schedule A-3","url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145046/"},{"title":"Licences and Permits, District of Houston","url":"https://houston.ca/community/planning-and-development/licences-and-permits/"}],"related":[{"slug":"business-licence","title":"Houston business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/business-licence/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Houston zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/zoning-lookup/"},{"slug":"short-term-rental","title":"Houston short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/short-term-rental/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/telkwa","name":"Telkwa","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/telkwa/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/smithers","name":"Smithers","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/granisle","name":"Granisle","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/granisle/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/burns-lake","name":"Burns Lake","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burns-lake/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/new-hazelton","name":"New Hazelton","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-hazelton/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/hazelton","name":"Hazelton","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hazelton/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. Standard home occupations are permitted in zones R1, R2, R3, A1, A2, C1 and C2; industry home occupations only in A1 and A2, on lots over one hectare. The District's page says one home occupation per property in Rural and Residential zones.","short":"Yes, in R1, R2, R3, A1, A2, C1 and C2","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/149520/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1225, 2026 (PDF), District of Houston","section":"ss. 6.4(1), 6.4(4)(a) and zone lists","quotes":["Standard Home Occupation","only be permitted on lots larger than one hectare"]},{"url":"https://houston.ca/community/planning-and-development/zoning/","title":"Zoning, District of Houston","section":"\"Home Occupations\"","quotes":["One Home Occupation per property is permitted in all Rural and Residential zones;"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"licence":{"label":"Business licence","value":"Required. Fee depends on the licence class: general licence $125 a year; artisan (handmade goods, home baking) $60 a year. The fee schedule has no separate home-based class.","short":"Yes: $125 a year ($60 for artisan)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/149520/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1225, 2026 (PDF), District of Houston","section":"s. 6.4(2)(a)","quotes":["All home-based businesses shall hold a valid business licence from the District of Houston."]},{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145046/","title":"Bylaw No. 1221, 2025 (PDF), Business Licence Fees, Schedule A-3","section":"Schedule A-3","quotes":["General License Fee Per year $125.00 $125.00 $125.00","Artisan License Fee Per year $60.00 $60.00 $60.00"]},{"url":"https://houston.ca/community/planning-and-development/licences-and-permits/","title":"Licences and Permits, District of Houston","section":"\"Business Licence\"","quotes":["regardless of your business’s “home” location, you are required to obtain a business licence."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"limits":{"label":"Limits","value":"Standard: operated by a resident of the home; one non-resident employee at most; up to 30% of the dwelling floor area, maximum 70 m²; no light industrial use or outdoor storage; one commercial vehicle up to 1,000 kg. Goods displayed or sold must be made on-site or directly related.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/149520/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1225, 2026 (PDF), District of Houston","section":"s. 6.4(2) and (3)","quotes":["employ a maximum of one on-site, non-resident employee;","not occupy more than thirty percent (30%) of the gross floor area of the dwelling","not involve a light industrial use or outdoor storage use;","is no larger than 1,000 kilograms gross vehicle weight","In no instance shall the display and sale of a good be the primary purpose of any home occupation."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"not_allowed":{"label":"Businesses not allowed","value":"Heavy industrial, equipment services, wrecking yards, and cannabis production, distribution or retail. A standard home occupation also cannot involve light industrial use or outdoor storage.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/149520/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1225, 2026 (PDF), District of Houston","section":"s. 6.4(2)(d) and 6.4(3)(d)","quotes":["In no instance shall a home occupation involve a heavy industrial, equipment","services, wrecking yard, cannabis production, cannabis distribution, or cannabis retail use.","not involve a light industrial use or outdoor storage use;"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1225, 2026 (s. 6.4, home occupations) and Business Licence Bylaw No. 1220, 2025.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/149520/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1225, 2026 (PDF), District of Houston","section":"s. 1.1","quotes":["This Bylaw will be cited as “Zoning Bylaw No. 1225, 2026.”"]},{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/144934/","title":"Business Licence Bylaw No. 1220, 2025 (PDF), District of Houston","section":"s. 6.5","quotes":["This bylaw may be cited as \"Business Licence Bylaw No. 1220, 2025\"."]}],"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\nThe [Zoning Bylaw No. 1225, 2026](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/149520/) permits standard home occupations in R1, R2, R3, A1, A2, C1 and C2. Industry home occupations are permitted only in A1 and A2 on lots over one hectare, and are capped at three non-resident employees. A home occupation must hold a District business licence.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Check your zone allows a home occupation (see the zoning-lookup answer).\n2. Apply for a business licence through the District's online portal (see the business-licence answer).\n3. If you will prepare food at home, ask Northern Health about a health permit, which is required for most home-based kitchens.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Standard home occupation limits: operated by a resident of the home; one non-resident employee at most; up to 30% of the dwelling floor area, maximum 70 m²; one commercial vehicle up to 1,000 kg; no light industrial use or outdoor storage. Goods displayed or sold must be made on-site or directly related.\n- Parking: 1 space per home occupation.\n- Not allowed: heavy industrial, equipment services, wrecking yards, and cannabis production, distribution or retail.\n- Licence fees: general $125 a year; artisan $60 a year. Which class applies is for the District to decide.\n- Signs are covered by Sign Bylaw No. 1224, 2026, which we did not read.","sources":[{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/149520/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1225, 2026 (PDF), District of Houston","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/144934/","title":"Business Licence Bylaw No. 1220, 2025 (PDF), District of Houston","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145046/","title":"Bylaw No. 1221, 2025 (PDF), Business Licence Fees, Schedule A-3","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://houston.ca/community/planning-and-development/licences-and-permits/","title":"Licences and Permits, District of Houston","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://houston.ca/community/planning-and-development/zoning/","title":"Zoning, District of Houston","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/houston/home-based-business/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/home-based-business.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/home-based-business.json"}}