Penticton home-based business rules
Can I run a business from my home?
Short answer
Usually yes. The City of Penticton allows home-based businesses as an accessory use with a business licence, in three types: minor, major and rural home occupation. Which type is allowed depends on your zone, and the size, employee and client limits grow from minor to rural.
Key facts
| Allowed | Yes, as an accessory use. Minor home occupation is a permitted use in most residential zones (e.g. R4-L, R4-S, RM1-RM3, RC); major home occupation in R4-L, R4-S and RC; rural home occupation in FG, A and RC.Sources differ: The City page says major home-based businesses are allowed in zones R1, R2, R3, RD1, RD2 and C1, which are zone names from the earlier zoning bylaw; the current bylaw (followed) lists R4-L, R4-S and RC for major. C1 also lists major and minor home occupation. A business in a major or rural category needs the matching waiver and a floor plan with the licence application.Zoning Bylaw No. 2024-22 (consolidated October 2026), ss. 7.3 to 7.5, ss. 7.3.1, zone use lists; Home-Based Businesses, Types of Home-Based Businesses · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingminor home occupation (subject to specific use regulation 7.3) major home occupation (subject to specific use regulation 7.4) rural home occupation (subject to specific use regulation 7.5) A minor home occupation, where permitted in a zone, shall only be an accessory use. Most home-based businesses are permitted in Penticton. |
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| Business licence | Yes. A City business licence is required for a home-based business; apply online. The general Business Licence Base Fee is $210 (2026), with a $31 non-refundable application deposit credited to it.Apply for a Business Licence; Home-Based Businesses, Types of Home-Based Businesses; Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2014-07 (consolidated October 2026), Appendix 5 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingA valid business licence is required to conduct business in Penticton. This includes home-based businesses and rental accommodations. a licence is required to ensure operations are suited to the neighbourhood Business Licence Base Fee $205.00 $210.00 |
| Limits | Minor: up to 25% of the floor area, max 20 m²; one client visit and one commercial vehicle visit a day (8 a.m. to 6 p.m.); no exterior storage; no non-resident workers. Major: up to 25% and 50 m² with accessory building; one non-resident employee; up to 2 clients at a time; 1 parking space. Rural: 2 non-resident employees, 100 m², 6 clients at a time.Sources differ: Sign: a minor home occupation sign is allowed under the Sign Bylaw (s. 7.3.11) while the City home-based page says a minor business is not allowed a sign and a major or rural business may have one; it also says up to two employees for a major licence while the zoning bylaw allows one non-resident employee. Zoning bylaw followed. Rural home occupations on ALR land must not exceed 100 m² per the City page.Zoning Bylaw No. 2024-22 (consolidated October 2026), ss. 7.3 to 7.5 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThe total area of a minor home occupation shall not exceed 25% of the floor area of the dwelling up to a maximum area of 20 m². shall not generate more than one (1) client visit to the site The permitted commercial vehicle visit must be between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. No exterior storage or operation of equipment shall be permitted in conjunction with a combined area of the residence used for the business and an accessory building used for the business exceed 50 m². One employee who is not a resident of the primary dwelling unit where the major home A major home occupation shall not generate more than two (2) client visits at any given time Two (2) employees who are not residents of the principal residence may work at that A rural home occupation shall not generate more than six (6) client visits at any given time. Major and Rural Home Residential 1 per business |
| Businesses not allowed | Not allowed (minor, and by reference major): repair or painting of vehicles, trailers or boats, tow-truck operations, manufacturing and industrial uses, social escort services, cabinet making, welding or machine shops, major care centre, meat cutting, commercial animal breeding, and storing industrial or construction equipment or materials.Zoning Bylaw No. 2024-22 (consolidated October 2026), ss. 7.3 to 7.5, s. 7.3.7; Zoning Bylaw No. 2024-22 (consolidated October 2026), ss. 7.3 to 7.5, s. 7.4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThis use does not include the repair or painting of vehicles, trailers or boats, tow-truck operations, manufacturing and industrial uses, social escort services, cabinet making, welding or machine shops, major care centre, meat cutting, commercial animal breeding, parking or storage of industrial or construction equipment or materials. A major home occupation shall be subject to the regulations of minor home occupations above, |
| Bylaw | Zoning Bylaw No. 2024-22 (ss. 7.3 Minor, 7.4 Major and 7.5 Rural Home Occupation) and Business License Bylaw No. 2026-01.Zoning Bylaw No. 2024-22 (consolidated October 2026), ss. 7.3 to 7.5, ss. 7.3-7.5; Business License Bylaw No. 2026-01, s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wording7.2 Bed and Breakfast Home .............................................................................................................................. 7-1 7.3 Minor Home Occupation.............................................................................................................................. 7-1 7.4 Major Home Occupation .............................................................................................................................. 7-2 7.3 Minor Home Occupation.............................................................................................................................. 7-1 7.4 Major Home Occupation .............................................................................................................................. 7-2 7.5 Rural Home Occupation ............................................................................................................................... 7-2 7.4 Major Home Occupation .............................................................................................................................. 7-2 7.5 Rural Home Occupation ............................................................................................................................... 7-2 7.6 Short Term Rentals ......................................................................................................................................... 7-3 Chapter 9 - Rural Zones Page 9-8 Schedule A Zoning Bylaw No. 2024-22 .ii major home occupation (subject to specific use regulation 7.4) Business License Bylaw No. 2026-01 |
How it works
Under Zoning Bylaw No. 2024-22 (sections 7.3 to 7.5), a minor home occupation is permitted in most residential zones (for example R4-L, R4-S, RM1 to RM3 and RC), a major one in R4-L, R4-S and RC, and a rural one in FG, A and RC. A City business licence is required; apply online. A major or rural business needs the matching waiver and a floor plan with the application.
Steps
- Check your zone on the Property Viewer and pick your type.
- Sign the matching Home-Occupation Waiver and add a floor plan if major or rural.
- Apply online and pay the licence fee and deposit.
Good to know
- Minor: up to 25% of the floor area and at most 20 m²; one client visit and one commercial vehicle visit a day (8 a.m. to 6 p.m.); no exterior storage; no non-resident workers.
- Major: up to 25% of the floor area and 50 m² with an accessory building; one non-resident employee; up to 2 clients at a time; 1 parking space.
- Rural: 2 non-resident employees, 100 m², and up to 6 clients at a time. On ALR land a rural business must not exceed 100 m² per the City page.
- Not allowed: repair or painting of vehicles, trailers or boats, tow-truck operations, manufacturing and industrial uses, social escort services, cabinet making, welding or machine shops, major care centres, meat cutting, commercial animal breeding, and storing industrial or construction equipment or materials.
- The City page also says a business that makes noise, nuisance or dust for neighbours is not suitable.
- Signs and zones: the City's page differs from the bylaw on the zones for major businesses, the number of employees, and whether a minor business may have a sign. Confirm with Business Licensing.
What you'll need
- Signed Home-Occupation Waiver for your type
- Floor plan showing the business area, for a major or rural business
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Summerland · Peachland · Oliver · Keremeos · West Kelowna · Kelowna
Home-based business rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Home-Based Businesses, City of Penticton (read 2026-10-29)
- Apply for a Business Licence, City of Penticton (read 2026-10-29)
- Zoning Bylaw No. 2024-22 (consolidated October 2026), ss. 7.3 to 7.5 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Business License Bylaw No. 2026-01 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2014-07 (consolidated October 2026), Appendix 5 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 5 facts was matched to the official text. How answers are checked.