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

# Osoyoos home-based business rules

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

**Short answer:** In Osoyoos you can run a home occupation in the RS1, RSM, RM1, Town Centre, C1, C2 and Agriculture zones with a Town business licence ($75 a year). It must take up at most 40% of the dwelling, up to 50 m², and be run by residents only.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Town of Osoyoos, https://www.osoyoos.ca)  
**Cost:** $75 a year for a home occupation licence. A $100 late fee applies if unpaid on March 1.  
**How long:** The Town states no processing time. Licences run January 1 to December 31.  
**Where:**
- In person: Planning and Development Services, 8711 Main Street, Osoyoos, BC (Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)
- Phone: Planning and Development Services, 250-495-6191
- Email: Planning and Development Services, plan@osoyoos.ca

## Key facts

- **Allowed:** Yes, as a "home occupation" accessory to a residence, in the RS1, RSM, RM1, Town Centre (TC), C1, C2 and Agriculture (AG) zones, subject to the Zoning Bylaw's home occupation rules.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1395, 2024, s. 7.5; zone lists](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/154202/)
  - Official wording: "“home occupation” means an occupation or profession that is accessory to the principal" … "g) home occupation, subject to Section 7.5;" … "j) home occupation, subject to Section 7.5." … "i) home occupation, subject to Section 7.5;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Business licence:** Yes. A Town business licence is required; the home occupation fee is $75 a year (other businesses $150).
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1400, 2025, s. 3.1, 8.1](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/155039/)
  - Official wording: "No person shall carry on any business within the Town without a valid and subsisting" … "b) home occupation: $75.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Limits:** At most 40% of the dwelling's floor area, up to 50 m². Run by residents only; inside the dwelling, no outdoor storage; one extra parking space; no vehicle over 4,600 kg parked outside; retail limited. Sign: one sign, up to 0.5 m², in residential zones and some others (Sign Bylaw 1282).
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1395, 2024, s. 7.5](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/154202/)
  - Official wording: "A home occupation shall not occupy more than 40% of the floor area of a principal" … "dwelling unit to a maximum of 50.0 m2." … "Only persons residing in the principal dwelling unit may carry on the home occupation" … "One (1) vehicle parking space is required in addition to those required for the principal" … "No vehicle exceeding 4,600 kg in vehicle weight and associated with or used in the" … "No retail sales shall be permitted in a home occupation, except for:"
  - Source: [Sign Bylaw No. 1282, 2012, Schedule A, sign type 38](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/31128/)
  - Official wording: "is Iimited to one sign either on the building or on the property, and" … "Occupation / Max. sign area 0.5 m2 0.5 m2"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Businesses not allowed:** No flammable or explosive materials; no outdoor storage for contractor, trade or mobile service; no boarding, breeding or keeping animals; no cannabis production; no salvage or repair of vehicles, boats or machinery; no gatherings of more than 4 people for art, education, religion or therapy.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1395, 2024, s. 7.5.7](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/154202/)
  - Official wording: "material or products that produce inflammable or explosive vapours or gases under" … "the outdoor storage of materials, vehicles and equipment associated with a" … "the boarding, breeding or keeping of animals;" … "cannabis production, indoor and cannabis production, outdoor;" … "the salvage or repair of motor vehicles, boats, or other machinery; or" … "the assembly of more than four (4) persons for any artistic, educational, religious,"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw No. 1395, 2024 (s. 7.5); Business Licence Bylaw No. 1400, 2025
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1395, 2024, s. 7.5](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/154202/)
  - Official wording: "7.4 Child Care Facility .................................................................................................31 7.5 Home Occupation .................................................................................................31 7.6 Retail Sales of Farm Products ..............................................................................32" … "ZONING BYLAW BYLAW NO. 1395, 2024 CONSOLIDATED VERSION"
  - Source: [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1400, 2025, s. 1.0](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/155039/)
  - Official wording: "This bylaw shall be cited for all purposes as the “Town of Osoyoos Business Licence"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The [Zoning Bylaw No. 1395](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/154202/) (section 7.5) allows a "home occupation" accessory to a residence in the RS1, RSM, RM1, Town Centre (TC), C1, C2 and Agriculture (AG) zones. It is not listed in the tourist commercial, industrial or other zones. You also need a Town business licence under the [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1400](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/155039/); the home occupation fee is $75 a year (other businesses $150). Licensing is reviewed against zoning.

Limits include:

- At most 40% of the dwelling's floor area, up to 50 m².
- Run by residents only, so no non-resident employees.
- Inside the dwelling, with no outdoor storage.
- One extra parking space, and no vehicle over 4,600 kg parked outside.
- Retail is limited.
- One sign, up to 0.5 m², in residential zones and some others (see [Sign Bylaw No. 1282](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/31128/)).

## Steps

1. Check your zone allows a home occupation.
2. Check the limits above against your plans.
3. Apply for the business licence (see the business-licence answer). The licence must be displayed.

## Good to know

- Not allowed: flammable or explosive materials; outdoor storage for contractor, trade or mobile service; boarding, breeding or keeping animals; cannabis production; salvage or repair of vehicles, boats or machinery; gatherings of more than 4 people for art, education, religion or therapy.
- No limit on client visits was found other than the retail rule and the 4-person assembly limit.
- A home occupation used contrary to the rules brings a $200 bylaw notice ($180 early, $210 late).

## Official forms and pages

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 1395, 2024 (PDF)](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/154202/)
- [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1400, 2025 (PDF)](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/155039/)
- [Business Licences and Permits, Town of Osoyoos](https://www.osoyoos.ca/business-licences-permits)
- [Sign Bylaw No. 1282, 2012 (PDF)](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/31128/)

## Related questions

- [Osoyoos business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/osoyoos/business-licence.md)
- [Osoyoos zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/osoyoos/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Osoyoos short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/osoyoos/short-term-rental.md)
- [Osoyoos noise bylaw: quiet hours, construction hours and fines](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/osoyoos/noise-rules.md)
- [Osoyoos bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/osoyoos/bylaw-fines.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Home-based business rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/home-based-business.md)
- [Oliver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oliver/home-based-business.md)
- [Keremeos](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/keremeos/home-based-business.md)
- [Midway](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/midway/home-based-business.md)
- [Penticton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/penticton/home-based-business.md)
- [Greenwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/greenwood/home-based-business.md)
- [Summerland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/summerland/home-based-business.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 1395, 2024 (PDF)](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/154202/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Business Licence Bylaw No. 1400, 2025 (PDF)](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/155039/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Sign Bylaw No. 1282, 2012 (PDF)](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/31128/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Business Licences and Permits, Town of Osoyoos](https://www.osoyoos.ca/business-licences-permits) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1392, 2025 (PDF)](https://osoyoos.civicweb.net/document/150460/) (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 Town of Osoyoos. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/osoyoos/home-based-business/_