{"title":"Lake Country home-based business rules","question":"Can I run a business from my home in Lake Country?","slug":"home-based-business","place":{"path":"ca/bc/lake-country","name":"Lake Country","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 Lake Country","url":"https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca"},"short_answer":"In Lake Country you can run a home-based business as a secondary use in agricultural, residential and rural zones, with a District business licence: $65, or $125 if clients or customers come to your home, plus a $30 application fee. Size, staff and sign limits depend on whether your lot is residential, country residential or rural.","aliases":["home business lake country","home occupation lake country","home based business licence lake country","work from home business lake country"],"cost":"$125 if clients come to the home, $65 if not, plus a $30 application fee. Prorated by approval date.","how_long":"Not stated for home-based businesses. Standard business licences typically take 2 to 3 weeks.","where":[{"type":"email","label":"Business Licensing","value":"business@lakecountry.bc.ca"},{"type":"phone","label":"Business Licensing (Monday to Wednesday)","value":"778-738-2723"},{"type":"phone","label":"Planning Department","value":"250-766-6674"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Business Licencing, District of Lake Country","url":"https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/businesslicencing"},{"title":"Zoning Bylaw 561, 2007 (consolidated) (PDF)","url":"https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-561-2007-consolidated"}],"related":[{"slug":"business-licence","title":"Lake Country business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-country/business-licence/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Lake Country zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-country/zoning-lookup/"},{"slug":"short-term-rental","title":"Lake Country short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-country/short-term-rental/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/kelowna","name":"Kelowna","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kelowna/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/vernon","name":"Vernon","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vernon/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/coldstream","name":"Coldstream","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coldstream/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/west-kelowna","name":"West Kelowna","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-kelowna/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/lumby","name":"Lumby","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lumby/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/peachland","name":"Peachland","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/peachland/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 a secondary use in agricultural, residential and rural zones. Residential Home Occupation applies in RM, RR, RU and C zones; in A and RLP zones it is a Country Residential Home Occupation on parcels under 1.0 ha and a Rural Home Occupation on parcels of 1.0 ha or more.","short":"Yes, in agricultural, residential and rural zones","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-561-2007-consolidated","title":"Zoning Bylaw 561, 2007 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Lake Country","section":"s. 10.2, Table 10.1","quotes":["Home Occupations are permitted within agricultural, residential and rural zones in","RM, RR, RU and C zones","Country Residential","Rural Home"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"licence":{"label":"Business licence","value":"Yes. A business licence is required for home-based businesses: $125 if clients or customers come to the home, $65 if not, plus a $30 application fee. Applicants sign and attach the Residential Home Occupation Regulations.","short":"Yes: $125 with customers, $65 without; $30 application","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/businesslicencing","title":"Business Licencing, District of Lake Country","section":"Business Licencing page","quotes":["This includes home-based businesses and short-term vacation rentals.","review the Residential Home Occupation Regulations [PDF/119KB], sign and attach to the business licence application."]},{"url":"https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/fees-bylaw-987-2016-consolidated","title":"Fees Bylaw 987, 2016 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Lake Country","section":"Schedule 15","quotes":["Home Based Businesses (receive clients and customers within the home) $125.00","(do not receive clients or customers within the $65.00","Application Fee (excluding short term vacation rentals and bed and $30.00"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"limits":{"label":"Limits","value":"Residential (RM, RR, RU, C): 25% of floor area, max 40 m²; one non-resident employee; one 0.28 m² sign. Country Residential (A, RLP under 1 ha): max 50 m²; 0.37 m² sign. Rural (A, RLP 1 ha+): 100 m² plus 50 m² storage; two employees; two 0.56 m² signs; two commercial vehicles.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-561-2007-consolidated","title":"Zoning Bylaw 561, 2007 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Lake Country","section":"s. 10.4","quotes":["The maximum floor area is 25 % of the total floor area of the principal dwelling","to a maximum of 40 m².","sign area of 0.28 m² and a maximum height","there may be one non-resident employee working on site at any given time.","The maximum floor area is 100 m², plus a maximum of 50 m² of storage space.","there may be two non-resident","each sign is permitted a maximum"]},{"url":"https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-561-2007-consolidated","title":"Zoning Bylaw 561, 2007 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Lake Country","section":"s. 9.1 parking table","quotes":["1 for each non-resident employee plus 1 in addition to","that required for the principal dwelling unit(s)"]},{"url":"https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-561-2007-consolidated","title":"Zoning Bylaw 561, 2007 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Lake Country","section":"s. 10.3","quotes":["The home occupation must not create off-site traffic congestion or parking"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"not_allowed":{"label":"Businesses not allowed","value":"Residential and Country Residential: exterior storage, vehicle or marine repair, auto-body, welding, wrecking yards, eating or drinking places (catering allowed), vets or kennels, meat or fish processing, amusement centres, funeral homes, cannabis production. Rural (1 ha+): exterior storage over 50 m² and more than two commercial vehicles are prohibited.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-561-2007-consolidated","title":"Zoning Bylaw 561, 2007 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Lake Country","section":"s. 10.4","quotes":["Parking of commercial vehicles larger than 5500 kg gross vehicle weight;","Eating or drinking establishment but does not include catering;","Veterinary hospital or kennels;","Cannabis Production.","Exterior storage more than 50 m² in size;","Parking of more than two commercial vehicles over 5000 kg. gross"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Zoning Bylaw 561, 2007 (ss. 10.2 to 10.6); Business Licensing Bylaw 1000, 2017","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-561-2007-consolidated","title":"Zoning Bylaw 561, 2007 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Lake Country","section":"s. 10.2","quotes":["general regulations, these specific use regulations shall take precedence. 10.2. Home Occupations Home Occupations are permitted within agricultural, residential and rural zones in","DISTRICT OF LAKE COUNTRY ZONING BYLAW 561, 2007 CONSOLIDATED VERSION"]},{"url":"https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/business-licensing-bylaw-1000-2017-consolidated","title":"Business Licensing Bylaw 1000, 2017 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Lake Country","section":"Title","quotes":["BUSINESS LICENSING BYLAW 1000, 2017"]}],"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\nIn the District of Lake Country, home-based businesses are a secondary use in agricultural, residential and rural zones under the [Zoning Bylaw](https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-561-2007-consolidated). Residential Home Occupation applies in RM, RR, RU and C zones. In A and RLP zones it is a Country Residential Home Occupation on parcels under 1.0 ha and a Rural Home Occupation on parcels of 1.0 ha or more. Farming is not a home occupation. On-site retail sales are allowed only if the product is produced on the premises.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Check your zone (see the zoning-lookup answer) and which lot type applies.\n2. Check the limits below.\n3. Apply for a business licence with the District. You sign and attach the Residential Home Occupation Regulations.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- **Residential (RM, RR, RU, C):** 25% of floor area, maximum 40 m²; one non-resident employee; one 0.28 m² sign.\n- **Country Residential (A, RLP under 1 ha):** maximum 50 m²; 0.37 m² sign.\n- **Rural (A, RLP 1 ha or more):** 100 m² plus 50 m² of storage; two employees; two 0.56 m² signs; two commercial vehicles.\n- **Not allowed (residential and country residential):** exterior storage, vehicle or marine repair, auto-body, welding, wrecking yards, eating or drinking places (catering is allowed), vets or kennels, meat or fish processing, amusement centres, funeral homes and cannabis production. On rural lots, exterior storage over 50 m² and more than two commercial vehicles are prohibited.\n- Home-based businesses are exempt from the fire, building and bylaw officer endorsement that other businesses need.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-561-2007-consolidated","title":"Zoning Bylaw 561, 2007 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Lake Country","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/businesslicencing","title":"Business Licencing, District of Lake Country","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/fees-bylaw-987-2016-consolidated","title":"Fees Bylaw 987, 2016 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Lake Country","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/business-licensing-bylaw-1000-2017-consolidated","title":"Business Licensing Bylaw 1000, 2017 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Lake Country","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/lake-country/home-based-business/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-country/home-based-business.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-country/home-based-business.json"}}