---
title: Lake Country home-based business rules
question: "Can I run a business from my home in Lake Country?"
place: Lake Country, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/lake-country
category: Starting and running a business
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Lake Country
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-country/home-based-business/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-country/home-based-business.json"
---

# Lake Country home-based business rules

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

**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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Lake Country, https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca)  
**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:**
- Email: Business Licensing, business@lakecountry.bc.ca
- Phone: Business Licensing (Monday to Wednesday), 778-738-2723
- Phone: Planning Department, 250-766-6674

## Key facts

- **Allowed:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 561, 2007 (consolidated), s. 10.2, Table 10.1](https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-561-2007-consolidated)
  - Official wording: "Home Occupations are permitted within agricultural, residential and rural zones in" … "RM, RR, RU and C zones" … "Country Residential" … "Rural Home"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Business licence:** 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.
  - Source: [Business Licencing, Business Licencing page](https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/businesslicencing)
  - Official wording: "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."
  - Source: [Fees Bylaw 987, 2016 (consolidated), Schedule 15](https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/fees-bylaw-987-2016-consolidated)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Limits:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 561, 2007 (consolidated), s. 10.4](https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-561-2007-consolidated)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 561, 2007 (consolidated), s. 9.1 parking table](https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-561-2007-consolidated)
  - Official wording: "1 for each non-resident employee plus 1 in addition to" … "that required for the principal dwelling unit(s)"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 561, 2007 (consolidated), s. 10.3](https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-561-2007-consolidated)
  - Official wording: "The home occupation must not create off-site traffic congestion or parking"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Businesses not allowed:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 561, 2007 (consolidated), s. 10.4](https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-561-2007-consolidated)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw 561, 2007 (ss. 10.2 to 10.6); Business Licensing Bylaw 1000, 2017
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 561, 2007 (consolidated), s. 10.2](https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-561-2007-consolidated)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Business Licensing Bylaw 1000, 2017 (consolidated), Title](https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/business-licensing-bylaw-1000-2017-consolidated)
  - Official wording: "BUSINESS LICENSING BYLAW 1000, 2017"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

In 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.

## Steps

1. Check your zone (see the zoning-lookup answer) and which lot type applies.
2. Check the limits below.
3. Apply for a business licence with the District. You sign and attach the Residential Home Occupation Regulations.

## Good to know

- **Residential (RM, RR, RU, C):** 25% of floor area, maximum 40 m²; one non-resident employee; one 0.28 m² sign.
- **Country Residential (A, RLP under 1 ha):** maximum 50 m²; 0.37 m² sign.
- **Rural (A, RLP 1 ha or more):** 100 m² plus 50 m² of storage; two employees; two 0.56 m² signs; two commercial vehicles.
- **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.
- Home-based businesses are exempt from the fire, building and bylaw officer endorsement that other businesses need.

## Official forms and pages

- [Business Licencing, District of Lake Country](https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/businesslicencing)
- [Zoning Bylaw 561, 2007 (consolidated) (PDF)](https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-561-2007-consolidated)

## Related questions

- [Lake Country business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-country/business-licence.md)
- [Lake Country zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-country/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Lake Country short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-country/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)
- [Kelowna](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kelowna/home-based-business.md)
- [Vernon](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vernon/home-based-business.md)
- [Coldstream](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coldstream/home-based-business.md)
- [West Kelowna](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-kelowna/home-based-business.md)
- [Lumby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lumby/home-based-business.md)
- [Peachland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/peachland/home-based-business.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw 561, 2007 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Lake Country](https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-561-2007-consolidated) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Business Licencing, District of Lake Country](https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/businesslicencing) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Fees Bylaw 987, 2016 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Lake Country](https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/fees-bylaw-987-2016-consolidated) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Business Licensing Bylaw 1000, 2017 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Lake Country](https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/business-licensing-bylaw-1000-2017-consolidated) (read 2026-11-06)

_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 Lake Country. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-country/home-based-business/_