---
title: Houston home-based business rules
question: "Can I run a business from my home in Houston?"
place: Houston, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/houston
category: Starting and running a business
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Houston
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/home-based-business/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/home-based-business.json"
---

# Houston home-based business rules

**Question:** Can I run a business from my home in Houston?

**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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Houston, https://houston.ca)  
**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:**
- Phone: Community Development Department, 250-845-2238
- Email: Community Development email, ecdev@houston.ca
- In person: Municipal Office, 3367 12th Street, Houston, BC V0J 1Z0 (Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

## Key facts

- **Allowed:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1225, 2026, ss. 6.4(1), 6.4(4)(a) and zone lists](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/149520/)
  - Official wording: "Standard Home Occupation" … "only be permitted on lots larger than one hectare"
  - Source: [Zoning, "Home Occupations"](https://houston.ca/community/planning-and-development/zoning/)
  - Official wording: "One Home Occupation per property is permitted in all Rural and Residential zones;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Business licence:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1225, 2026, s. 6.4(2)(a)](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/149520/)
  - Official wording: "All home-based businesses shall hold a valid business licence from the District of Houston."
  - Source: [Bylaw No. 1221, 2025, Business Licence Fees, Schedule A-3](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145046/)
  - Official wording: "General License Fee Per year $125.00 $125.00 $125.00" … "Artisan License Fee Per year $60.00 $60.00 $60.00"
  - Source: [Licences and Permits, "Business Licence"](https://houston.ca/community/planning-and-development/licences-and-permits/)
  - Official wording: "regardless of your business’s “home” location, you are required to obtain a business licence."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Limits:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1225, 2026, s. 6.4(2) and (3)](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/149520/)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Businesses not allowed:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1225, 2026, s. 6.4(2)(d) and 6.4(3)(d)](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/149520/)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw No. 1225, 2026 (s. 6.4, home occupations) and Business Licence Bylaw No. 1220, 2025.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1225, 2026, s. 1.1](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/149520/)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw will be cited as “Zoning Bylaw No. 1225, 2026.”"
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1220, 2025, s. 6.5](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/144934/)
  - Official wording: "This bylaw may be cited as "Business Licence Bylaw No. 1220, 2025"."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The [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.

## Steps

1. Check your zone allows a home occupation (see the zoning-lookup answer).
2. Apply for a business licence through the District's online portal (see the business-licence answer).
3. If you will prepare food at home, ask Northern Health about a health permit, which is required for most home-based kitchens.

## Good to know

- 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.
- Parking: 1 space per home occupation.
- Not allowed: heavy industrial, equipment services, wrecking yards, and cannabis production, distribution or retail.
- Licence fees: general $125 a year; artisan $60 a year. Which class applies is for the District to decide.
- Signs are covered by Sign Bylaw No. 1224, 2026, which we did not read.

## Official forms and pages

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 1225, 2026 (PDF), District of Houston](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/149520/)
- [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1220, 2025 (PDF), District of Houston](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/144934/)
- [Bylaw No. 1221, 2025 (PDF), Business Licence Fees, Schedule A-3](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145046/)
- [Licences and Permits, District of Houston](https://houston.ca/community/planning-and-development/licences-and-permits/)

## Related questions

- [Houston business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/business-licence.md)
- [Houston zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Houston short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/short-term-rental.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Home-based business rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/home-based-business.md)
- [Telkwa](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/telkwa/home-based-business.md)
- [Smithers](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/home-based-business.md)
- [Granisle](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/granisle/home-based-business.md)
- [Burns Lake](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burns-lake/home-based-business.md)
- [New Hazelton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-hazelton/home-based-business.md)
- [Hazelton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hazelton/home-based-business.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 1225, 2026 (PDF), District of Houston](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/149520/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1220, 2025 (PDF), District of Houston](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/144934/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaw No. 1221, 2025 (PDF), Business Licence Fees, Schedule A-3](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145046/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Licences and Permits, District of Houston](https://houston.ca/community/planning-and-development/licences-and-permits/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Zoning, District of Houston](https://houston.ca/community/planning-and-development/zoning/) (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 District of Houston. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/home-based-business/_