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

# Princeton home-based business rules

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

**Short answer:** Yes, in Princeton, if your zone allows it. Major home occupations are permitted in the RC, RS1, RD, RM2 and C1 zones; minor ones in RS2, RSM, RD, RM2 and RM3. The Town's business licence form has a Home Based option; the basic fee is $90 a year.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Town of Princeton, https://www.princeton.ca)  
**Cost:** $90 basic business licence fee (September 1, 2026 rate), prorated by 50% for applications received after October 1.  
**How long:** Not stated.  
**Where:**
- Email: Business licensing, spalmar@princeton.ca
- In person: The Annex, 231 Bridge Street, Princeton, BC
- Phone: Town Hall, 250-295-3135

## Key facts

- **Allowed:** Yes. Major home occupations are permitted in the RC, RS1, RD, RM2 (RD and RM2 only in a single detached dwelling) and C1 zones. Minor home occupations are permitted in the RS2, RSM, RD, RM2 and RM3 zones.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw Number 880, 2013, s. 10.1.5, 11.1.2, 14.1.2-14.1.3, 15.1.6-15.1.7, 17.1.5, 12.1.1, 13.1.1, 16.1.5](https://princeton.civicweb.net/document/11311/)
  - Official wording: "home occupation, major;" … "home occupation, major only in a single detached dwelling;" … "home occupation, minor;" … "home occupation, major; and,"
  - Source: [Official Community Plan 2022-2042, Home-based business policy (a)](https://princeton.civicweb.net/document/60569/)
  - Official wording: "Home-based businesses are permitted in all residential areas according to the"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Business licence:** The Town's business licence application has a 'Home Based' box; the basic fee is $90 (resident business licence, September 1, 2026 rate), prorated by 50% for applications received after October 1.
  - Source: [Business Licence Application, Application form and fee schedule](https://princeton.municipalwebsites.ca/ckfinder/connector?command=Proxy&lang=en&type=Files&currentFolder=%2FTown_Services%2F&hash=c245c263ce0eced480effe66bbede6b4d46c15ae&fileName=BUSINESS%20LICENCE%20APPLICATION_new(1%29.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Commercial Home Based Non-Residential Intermunicipal Seasonal Change of" … "Basic Fee $90.00" … "Charge is prorated by 50% for application received after October 1st of each year"
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1026, 2022, Schedule F, Business Licences, Schedule F, F01](https://princeton.civicweb.net/document/53142/)
  - Official wording: "Resident Business License $ 70.00 $ 75.00 $ 80.00 $ 85.00 $ 90.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Limits:** Minor: at most 50 m² or 20% of the dwelling's floor area (whichever is less), residents only, one client visit a day. Major: at most 75 m² or 25% (whichever is less), one non-resident employee, no more than five client visits at any time, one per parcel. Both must be fully enclosed in the dwelling.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw Number 880, 2013, s. 6.26.1, 6.26.5, 6.26.7](https://princeton.civicweb.net/document/11311/)
  - Official wording: "shall not occupy more than 50.0 m2 (538.2 ft2) or 20.0% of the floor area of the dwelling unit, whichever is less." … "A minor home occupation shall not generate more than one client or customer visit"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw Number 880, 2013, s. 6.25.1-6.25.5](https://princeton.civicweb.net/document/11311/)
  - Official wording: "shall not occupy more than 75.0 m2 (807 ft2) or 25.0% of the floor area of the dwelling unit, whichever is less." … "A major home occupation may employ one person who is not a resident of the" … "shall not generate more than five client or customer visits"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Businesses not allowed:** Not allowed: salvage, storage, repair or sales of motor vehicles, trailers, boats or parts; tow-truck operations; manufacturing and industrial uses; social escort services; cabinet making; welding or machine shops; meat cutting; commercial animal breeding; parking or storage of industrial, commercial or construction equipment or materials; sale or storage of goods not produced on the premises (internet, phone and mail-order sales allowed if customers do not visit).
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw Number 880, 2013, s. 6.26.8 (minor), 6.25.7 (major)](https://princeton.civicweb.net/document/11311/)
  - Official wording: "Tow-truck operations, manufacturing and industrial uses, social escort services," … "cabinet making, welding or machine shops, meat cutting, commercial animal" … "internet, telephone or mail order sales of such commodities shall be permitted"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Town of Princeton Zoning Bylaw Number 880, 2013, ss. 6.25 and 6.26; Town of Princeton Business License and Regulation Bylaw No. 914, 2016.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw Number 880, 2013, s. 1.1](https://princeton.civicweb.net/document/11311/)
  - Official wording: "Town of Princeton Zoning Bylaw Number 880, 2013"
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1026, 2022, Schedule F, Business Licences](https://princeton.civicweb.net/document/53142/)
  - Official wording: "Town of Princeton Business License and Regulation Bylaw No. 914, 2016"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The Town of Princeton's [Zoning Bylaw](https://princeton.civicweb.net/document/11311/) permits major home occupations in the RC, RS1, RD, RM2 (RD and RM2 only in a single detached dwelling) and C1 zones. Minor home occupations are permitted in the RS2, RSM, RD, RM2 and RM3 zones. A major home occupation must also meet the minor rules. The FG zone permits "home industry" instead (ss. 6.17 to 6.24).

The Town's business licence application has a "Home Based" box. Which home occupations must hold a licence is set in the Business License and Regulation Bylaw No. 914, 2016, which is not in the Town's posted bylaw library.

## Steps

1. Check your zone (see zoning-lookup) and the limits below.
2. Complete the Business Licence Application and email it to spalmar@princeton.ca, or drop it off at the Annex.
3. Pay the fee: $90, prorated by 50% if received after October 1.

## Good to know

- Minor: at most 50 m² or 20% of the dwelling's floor area (whichever is less), residents only, one client visit a day.
- Major: at most 75 m² or 25% (whichever is less), one non-resident employee, no more than five client visits at any time, one per parcel.
- Both must be fully enclosed in the dwelling, with no external storage. The proprietor must live there. Major needs off-street parking for employees, clients and customers.
- Signs: one sign of 0.6 m² (6.5 ft²), no back lighting.
- Not allowed: salvage, storage, repair or sales of motor vehicles, trailers, boats or parts; tow-truck operations; manufacturing and industrial uses; social escort services; cabinet making; welding or machine shops; meat cutting; commercial animal breeding; storage of industrial, commercial or construction equipment or materials; sale or storage of goods not produced on the premises (internet, phone and mail-order sales allowed if customers do not visit).

## Official forms and pages

- [Business Licence Application (PDF)](https://princeton.municipalwebsites.ca/ckfinder/connector?command=Proxy&lang=en&type=Files&currentFolder=%2FTown_Services%2F&hash=c245c263ce0eced480effe66bbede6b4d46c15ae&fileName=BUSINESS%20LICENCE%20APPLICATION_new(1%29.pdf)
- [Zoning Bylaw Number 880, 2013 (PDF)](https://princeton.civicweb.net/document/11311/)

## Related questions

- [Princeton business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/princeton/business-licence.md)
- [Princeton zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/princeton/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Princeton short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/princeton/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)
- [Keremeos](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/keremeos/home-based-business.md)
- [Summerland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/summerland/home-based-business.md)
- [Hope](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hope/home-based-business.md)
- [Penticton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/penticton/home-based-business.md)
- [Peachland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/peachland/home-based-business.md)
- [Oliver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oliver/home-based-business.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw Number 880, 2013 (PDF), Town of Princeton](https://princeton.civicweb.net/document/11311/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1026, 2022, Schedule F, Business Licences (PDF), Town of Princeton](https://princeton.civicweb.net/document/53142/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Business Licence Application (PDF), Town of Princeton](https://princeton.municipalwebsites.ca/ckfinder/connector?command=Proxy&lang=en&type=Files&currentFolder=%2FTown_Services%2F&hash=c245c263ce0eced480effe66bbede6b4d46c15ae&fileName=BUSINESS%20LICENCE%20APPLICATION_new(1%29.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Official Community Plan 2022-2042 (PDF), Town of Princeton](https://princeton.civicweb.net/document/60569/) (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 Town of Princeton. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/princeton/home-based-business/_