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

# Salmon Arm home-based business rules

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

**Short answer:** Yes, in many Salmon Arm zones. Home occupation is a permitted use in zones such as R-10, R-13, R-17, R-19 and A-1 (not R-11). You need a City business licence, no more than 2 home occupations per parcel (only 1 with the public attending), and on most residential parcels no more than 45 m².

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Salmon Arm, https://www.salmonarm.ca)  
**Cost:** Licence fee depends on the business category, for example Crafters/Artisans (Home Based) $100, Direct Sales $100, Bookkeeping $200, Contracting $175. A new business pays $51 plus GST for an inspection of premises if one is required.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Business licensing, 250-803-4003
- Email: Business licensing, businesslicensing@salmonarm.ca
- In person: City Hall, 500 2 Avenue NE, Salmon Arm, BC V1E 4N2

## Key facts

- **Allowed:** Yes, home occupation is a permitted use in many zones, for example R-10, R-13, R-17, R-19 and A-1 (not in R-11). No more than 2 home occupations per parcel, and only 1 of them may have the public attend.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2303 (PDF, Section 4.5), s. 4.5.1; zone permitted uses](https://www.salmonarm.ca/DocumentCenter/View/74)
  - Official wording: "The maximum number of home occupations per parcel shall be two (2), provided only one (1) requires public" … "bed and breakfast limited to two let rooms within a principal single family dwelling only; .6 boarders, limited to a maximum of two; .7 family childcare facility within a principal single family dwelling only; .8 group childcare within a principal single family dwelling only; .9 home occupation;" … "single family dwelling with or without one secondary suite .2 boarders, limited to a maximum of two .3 accessory use .4 home occupation" … "The following uses and no others are permitted in the A-1 Zone:"
  - Source: [Business Licensing, Business Licensing page](https://www.salmonarm.ca/114/Business-Licensing)
  - Official wording: "Home occupations, as defined in the Zoning Bylaw, are permitted in some zones."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Business licence:** Yes. A business licence is required, and the application has a home occupation box and needs the property or strata owner's consent. Fee is by category, for example Crafters/Artisans (Home Based) $100, Direct Sales $100, Bookkeeping $200, Contracting $175.
  - Source: [Business Licensing, Business Licensing page](https://www.salmonarm.ca/114/Business-Licensing)
  - Official wording: "A City issued business licence is required, on an annual basis, by any person or persons who wish to begin or continue operating a business in Salmon Arm."
  - Source: [Business Licence Application and Guide](https://www.salmonarm.ca/DocumentCenter/View/38)
  - Official wording: "If application is for a HOME OCCUPATION or OUTSIDE VENDOR, consent to the intended use by the Property/Business Owner,"
  - Source: [Fee for Services Bylaw No. 2498 (PDF, consolidated August 24, 2026), Schedule B, Appendix 8](https://www.salmonarm.ca/DocumentCenter/View/2040)
  - Official wording: "Crafters/Artisans (Home Based) $100.00" … "Direct Sales (Tupperware/Avon/Watkins/Amway, etc.) $100.00" … "Bookkeeping $200.00" … "Contracting/Sub-contracting/Tradesman $175.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Limits:** Residential parcels: wholly inside the dwelling, up to 45 m², no outside storage, no parking problem or nuisance. R-10 or R-17 lots of 0.2 to under 0.4 ha may also use an accessory building (45 m²); 0.4 ha or more, 100 m². R-5, R-14 or upper-floor units: up to 20% of the unit, with owner or strata approval. One non-resident worker and one sign per home occupation. Private educational or training services: up to 3 students or clients at a time.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2303 (PDF, Section 4.5), s. 4.5.2-4.5.5, 4.5.8, 4.5.9, 4.5.13](https://www.salmonarm.ca/DocumentCenter/View/74)
  - Official wording: "shall occupy up to 45.0 square meters (484.4 square feet) of combined floor area; #3087" … "shall not involve any outside storage; and" … "shall occupy a combined total floor area of no greater than 100.0 square metres (1,076" … "shall occupy not more than 20% combined total of the area of the dwelling unit; and #3087" … "shall not exceed three (3). #3218" … "One person per home occupation other than family members residing in the dwelling or on" … "A maximum of one sign per home occupation advertising a home occupation may be permitted in accordance" … "The maximum number of students or clients at one time or session for private educational or training services" … "One person per home occupation other than family members residing in the dwelling or on the parcel containing"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Businesses not allowed:** A home occupation cannot be a family or commercial daycare, boarders or a bed and breakfast (those are separate uses). It cannot use materials giving off flammable or explosive vapours, cause noise, vibration, smoke, dust, odour or interference beyond the parcel, or sell food or goods not produced on the premises.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2303 (PDF, Section 4.5), s. 2 (home occupation); s. 4.5.10-4.5.12](https://www.salmonarm.ca/DocumentCenter/View/74)
  - Official wording: "A home occupation shall not include a family or" … "No food or commodities shall be offered for retail sale or wholesale other than those produced on the premises;" … "The home occupation shall not use or store material or products that produce inflammable or explosive vapours" … "No home occupation shall include a use that generates noise, vibration, smoke, dust, toxic or noxious matter,"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw No. 2303, s. 4.5 (Home Occupations); Business Licence Regulation Bylaw No. 3102; Fee for Services Bylaw No. 2498
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2303 (PDF, Section 4.5), s. 4.5](https://www.salmonarm.ca/DocumentCenter/View/74)
  - Official wording: "Home occupations shall comply with the following regulations:"
  - Source: [Business Licence Regulation Bylaw No. 3102, title](https://www.salmonarm.ca/DocumentCenter/View/125)
  - Official wording: "Licence Regulation Bylaw No. 3102"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

[Zoning Bylaw No. 2303](https://www.salmonarm.ca/DocumentCenter/View/74), section 4.5, allows home occupations in many zones. No more than 2 home occupations are allowed per parcel, and only 1 of them may have the public attend. Each needs a City business licence ([Bylaw No. 3102](https://www.salmonarm.ca/DocumentCenter/View/125)). The application has a home occupation box and needs the property or strata owner's consent.

## Steps

1. Check that home occupation is permitted in your zone.
2. Get the owner's or strata's consent if the property is not yours.
3. Mail or deliver the Business Licence Application, marked Home Occupation, with the fee to Development Services at City Hall.

## Good to know

- Residential parcels: the business must be wholly inside the dwelling, up to 45 m², with no outside storage and no parking problem or nuisance.
- R-10 or R-17 lots of 0.2 to under 0.4 ha may also use an accessory building (45 m²); at 0.4 ha or more, 100 m².
- R-5, R-14 or upper-floor units: up to 20% of the unit, with owner or strata approval.
- One non-resident worker and one sign per home occupation. Private educational or training services: up to 3 students or clients at a time.
- Not a home occupation: a family or commercial daycare, boarders, or a bed and breakfast. A home occupation cannot use materials giving off flammable or explosive vapours, cause noise, vibration, smoke, dust, odour or interference beyond the parcel, or sell food or goods not produced on the premises.
- Non-residential parcels under 0.4 ha: up to 100 m². At 0.4 ha or more: 100 m² with up to 200 m² of screened outside storage.

## What you'll need

- Business Licence Application with the Home Occupation box marked
- Written consent of the property owner or strata

## Official forms and pages

- [Application and Guide for Business Licence (PDF)](https://www.salmonarm.ca/DocumentCenter/View/38)
- [Zoning Bylaw 2303, Section 4.5 Home Occupations (PDF)](https://www.salmonarm.ca/DocumentCenter/View/74)

## Related questions

- [Salmon Arm business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/salmon-arm/business-licence.md)
- [Salmon Arm zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/salmon-arm/zoning-lookup.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Home-based business rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/home-based-business.md)

## Sources

- [Business Licensing, City of Salmon Arm](https://www.salmonarm.ca/114/Business-Licensing) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 2303 (PDF, Section 4.5), City of Salmon Arm](https://www.salmonarm.ca/DocumentCenter/View/74) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Business Licence Application and Guide (PDF), City of Salmon Arm](https://www.salmonarm.ca/DocumentCenter/View/38) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Fee for Services Bylaw No. 2498 (PDF, consolidated August 24, 2026), City of Salmon Arm](https://www.salmonarm.ca/DocumentCenter/View/2040) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Business Licence Regulation Bylaw No. 3102 (PDF), City of Salmon Arm](https://www.salmonarm.ca/DocumentCenter/View/125) (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 Salmon Arm. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/salmon-arm/home-based-business/_