---
title: Revelstoke home-based business rules
question: "Can I run a business from my home?"
place: Revelstoke, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/revelstoke
category: Starting and running a business
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Revelstoke
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/revelstoke/home-based-business/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/revelstoke/home-based-business.json"
---

# Revelstoke home-based business rules

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

**Short answer:** Yes, in Revelstoke you can run a home based business as an accessory use to your home, with a City business licence. The Zoning Bylaw has two types: Type I (no outside employees, one client visit at a time) and Type II (up to two outside employees, two client visits at a time).

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Revelstoke, https://www.revelstoke.ca)  
**Cost:** $58 a year for a home occupation licence, plus a $58 application fee for a new licence (non-profits exempt) and a $105 inspection fee where an inspection is needed.  
**How long:** The City says the initial licence review takes about 3 to 4 weeks.  
**Where:**
- Email: Development Services, development@revelstoke.ca
- Phone: Development Services, 250-837-3637

## Key facts

- **Allowed:** Yes, as an accessory use to a single-detached, two-unit or multi-unit dwelling, or dwellings in a mixed-use building. Type I: all residential zones, MU-1 to MU-4, C-4, CD-02, 03, 05, 06, 08, 10, 11 and 12. Type II: R-LD1, R-LD2, R-LD5, R-LD6, R-LD7, MU-2, CD-06 and CD-10. Maximum two per lot, only one Type II.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2406, 2025, consolidated to Bylaw 2449, Zoning Bylaw s. 5.9(1)-(2) and zone permitted-use lists](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/193929/)
  - Official wording: "A home based business is only permitted as an accessory use to a single-" … "detached dwelling, two-unit dwelling, multi-unit dwelling, or to the residential" … "(2) A maximum of two (2) home based businesses are permitted per lot, with a maximum" … "of one (1) home based business, type II permitted per lot." … "(11) Home based business, type I" … "(12) Home based business, type II" … "(2) A maximum of two (2) home based businesses are permitted per lot, with a maximum" … "(23) Home based business, type II" … "(7) Home based business, type II"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Business licence:** Yes, a business licence is required. Fee: $58 a year for home occupations, plus a $58 application fee for a new licence (non-profits exempt) and a $105 inspection fee where an inspection is needed.
  - Source: [Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 1503, consolidated to Bylaw 2451, Business Licensing Bylaw s. 4](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/1053)
  - Official wording: "No person shall carry on, maintain, own or operate from premises within the City a" … "trade, business, profession, occupation or calling unless the owner or operator thereof:"
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2256, Schedule I, Fees and Charges Bylaw Schedule I, items 52, 102, 104](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/145989)
  - Official wording: "52. HOME OCCUPATIONS $58.00" … "102. BUSINESS LICENSE APPLICATION FEE $58.00" … "104. BUSINESS LICENSE INSPECTION FEE $105.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Limits:** Type I: no non-resident employees, no outdoor storage, one client visit at a time, at most 15% of the usable floor space of the dwelling and accessory buildings. Type II: up to 2 non-resident employees, 20 m² of screened outdoor storage, one sign up to 0.3 m², two client visits at a time, up to 25% of floor space. All parking on the lot.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2406, 2025, consolidated to Bylaw 2449, Zoning Bylaw s. 5.9.1, 5.9.2, 5.9(1)(e)](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/193929/)
  - Official wording: "(1) A home based business, type I, is not permitted any non-resident employees." … "(2) A home based business, type I, is not permitted to have any outdoor storage on a lot." … "(3) A home based business, type I, is permitted a maximum of one (1) client visit to the lot" … "(4) A home based business, type I, shall not comprise more than 15% of the total" … "(1) A home based business, type II, is permitted a maximum of two (2) non-resident" … "(6) A home based business, type II, shall not comprise more than 25% of the total" … "e. All parking associated with a home based business must be accommodated within"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Businesses not allowed:** No list of banned business types. Not allowed: a home business that discharges odours, noxious matter, vapours, smoke, dust, heat, glare or radiation; one that is a fire hazard through manufacturing processes or materials storage; or one that changes the character or external appearance of the dwelling. In residential zones such as R-LD1, Type II is also prohibited on a lot with a community care facility, group home or bed and breakfast.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2406, 2025, consolidated to Bylaw 2449, Zoning Bylaw s. 5.9(1)](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/193929/)
  - Official wording: "b. A home based business shall be operated as an accessory use only and shall not" … "change the character or external appearance of the principal dwelling." … "d. There shall be no discharge or emitting of odorous or noxious matters, vapours," … "f. Any home based business that represents a fire hazard by virtue of manufacturing" … "(17) Home based business type II is prohibited on a lot that contains a community care" … "facility, group home, or bed and breakfast."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** City of Revelstoke Zoning Bylaw No. 2406, 2025 (s. 5.9); Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 1503, 1995; Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2256, Schedule I
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2406, 2025, consolidated to Bylaw 2449, Zoning Bylaw s. 5.9](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/193929/)
  - Official wording: "City of Revelstoke Zoning Bylaw No. 2406, 2025" … "5.9 Home Based Business"
  - Source: [Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 1503, consolidated to Bylaw 2451, Business Licensing Bylaw title](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/1053)
  - Official wording: "City of Revelstoke Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 1503, 1995"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Section 5.9 of the [Zoning Bylaw 2406](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/193929/) allows a home based business as an accessory use to a single-detached, two-unit or multi-unit dwelling, or to dwellings in a mixed-use building. You also need a City business licence. A maximum of two home based businesses are allowed per lot, and only one can be Type II.

- **Type I** is allowed in all residential zones, MU-1 to MU-4, C-4, and CD-02, 03, 05, 06, 08, 10, 11 and 12.
- **Type II** is allowed in R-LD1, R-LD2, R-LD5, R-LD6, R-LD7, MU-2, CD-06 and CD-10.

Type I is not listed in the C-1, C-2, C-3, industrial or park zones. Confirm your lot's zone on the City map.

## Steps

1. Check that your zone lists a home based business, and decide whether you are Type I or Type II.
2. Apply for a business licence through Development Services (see the business-licence answer).

## Good to know

- **Type I:** no non-resident employees, no outdoor storage, one client visit at a time, at most 15% of the usable floor space of the dwelling and accessory buildings.
- **Type II:** up to 2 non-resident employees, 20 m² of screened outdoor storage (not in the front yard setback, 1.5 m from side and rear lot lines), one sign up to 0.3 m², two client visits at a time, up to 25% of floor space.
- All parking must be on your lot.
- **Not allowed:** a home business that discharges odours, noxious matter, vapours, smoke, dust, heat, glare or radiation; is a fire hazard through manufacturing or storage; or changes the character or outside appearance of the home. The bylaw does not list banned business types.
- In residential zones such as R-LD1, Type II is also not allowed on a lot with a community care facility, group home or bed and breakfast.
- **Tickets for a zoning breach:** a bylaw notice is $300 ($200 if paid early); a municipal ticket is $1,000.

## Official forms and pages

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 2406, 2025 (PDF), section 5.9](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/193929/)
- [Business Licensing page](https://www.revelstoke.ca/2054/Business-Licensing)

## Related questions

- [Revelstoke business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/revelstoke/business-licence.md)
- [Revelstoke short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/revelstoke/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)
- [Sicamous](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sicamous/home-based-business.md)
- [Enderby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/enderby/home-based-business.md)
- [Nakusp](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nakusp/home-based-business.md)
- [Armstrong](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/armstrong/home-based-business.md)
- [Spallumcheen](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/spallumcheen/home-based-business.md)
- [Golden](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/golden/home-based-business.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 2406, 2025, consolidated to Bylaw 2449 (PDF), City of Revelstoke](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/193929/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaw No. 1503, consolidated to Bylaw 2451 (PDF), City of Revelstoke](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/1053) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2256, Schedule I (PDF), City of Revelstoke](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/145989) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Business Licensing, City of Revelstoke](https://www.revelstoke.ca/2054/Business-Licensing) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Offence Notice Bylaw No. 2370, consolidated (PDF), City of Revelstoke](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/226008/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 2082, Schedule 2 (PDF), City of Revelstoke](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/164836) (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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Revelstoke. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/revelstoke/home-based-business/_