{"title":"Slocan home-based business rules","question":"Can I run a business from my home in Slocan?","slug":"home-based-business","place":{"path":"ca/bc/slocan","name":"Slocan","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"business","name":"Starting and running a business"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"Village of Slocan","url":"https://www.slocancity.com"},"short_answer":"Yes. Slocan allows home-based businesses in the R-1, R-2 and R-3 residential zones. You need a Category 2 business licence ($75 a year) and must meet limits such as 50% of the dwelling's floor area and one non-resident employee at most.","aliases":["home business slocan","home occupation slocan","work from home business licence slocan"],"cost":"Category 2 business licence, $75 per annum (half after June 30).","how_long":"The Village does not state a processing time.","where":[{"type":"in_person","label":"Village Office","value":"503 Slocan Street, PO Box 50, Slocan, BC V0G 2C0","note":"Monday to Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (confirm by phone)"},{"type":"phone","label":"Village Office","value":"250-355-2277"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 633 (PDF)","url":"http://www.slocancity.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/633-Zoning-Bylaw-2013-CONSOLIDATED-Updated-Feb.-10-25.pdf"},{"title":"Business Licence Bylaw No. 662 (PDF)","url":"http://www.slocancity.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/662-Business-License-Bylaw-2018-CONSOLIDATED-Updated-April-11-22.pdf"},{"title":"Business Licences, Village of Slocan","url":"https://www.slocancity.com/business-licences/"}],"related":[{"slug":"business-licence","title":"Slocan business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/slocan/business-licence/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Slocan zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/slocan/zoning-lookup/"},{"slug":"short-term-rental","title":"Slocan short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/slocan/short-term-rental/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/silverton","name":"Silverton","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/silverton/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/new-denver","name":"New Denver","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-denver/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/nelson","name":"Nelson","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nelson/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/kaslo","name":"Kaslo","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kaslo/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/castlegar","name":"Castlegar","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/nakusp","name":"Nakusp","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nakusp/home-based-business/"}],"topic":{"title":"Home-based business rules in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/home-based-business/"},"facts":{"allowed":{"label":"Allowed","value":"Yes, in the R-1, R-2 (single and two family, special residential) and R-3 (multi-family) residential zones.","short":"Yes, in R-1, R-2 and R-3 zones","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"http://www.slocancity.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/633-Zoning-Bylaw-2013-CONSOLIDATED-Updated-Feb.-10-25.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 633, 2013 (PDF, consolidated Feb. 10, 2025)","section":"ss. 5.4.1(h), 5.5.1, 5.6.1(d)","quotes":["Home Based Business;","Permitted Uses in the Single and Two Family Residential Zone (R-1)","Home Based Business."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"licence":{"label":"Business licence","value":"Yes: Category 2 business licence, $75 per annum (half after June 30). Bed & Breakfast and vacation rental are Category 3, $100.","short":"Yes: $75 a year","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"http://www.slocancity.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/584-Fees-and-Charges-CONSOLIDATED-Updated-Feb-18-2026.pdf","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 584, Schedule I (PDF)","section":"Schedule I","quotes":["Business Licence Category 2 - Home-Based Business","the Zoning Bylaw (excluding Bed & Breakfast/Vacation","$75 per annum"]},{"url":"http://www.slocancity.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/662-Business-License-Bylaw-2018-CONSOLIDATED-Updated-April-11-22.pdf","title":"Business Licence Bylaw No. 662, 2018 (PDF, consolidated April 11, 2022)","section":"s. 8(k)","quotes":["The fee for a Home-Based Business Licence shall be that listed in the current Village"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"limits":{"label":"Limits","value":"Floor area at most 50% of the dwelling; one non-resident employee at most; no outside change except one unlit sign up to 0.1 m²; only goods produced on the premises sold; no outdoor storage or display; no extra noise or traffic; 2 extra parking spaces.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"http://www.slocancity.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/633-Zoning-Bylaw-2013-CONSOLIDATED-Updated-Feb.-10-25.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 633, 2013 (PDF, consolidated Feb. 10, 2025)","section":"s. 4.15(1)","quotes":["shall not exceed fifty per cent of the","no more than one person who is not a resident of the dwelling may be employed","no commodities may be offered for sale except those produced on the premises;","there shall be no external storage or outdoor display"]},{"url":"http://www.slocancity.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/633-Zoning-Bylaw-2013-CONSOLIDATED-Updated-Feb.-10-25.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 633, 2013 (PDF, consolidated Feb. 10, 2025)","section":"s. 4.21(4)","quotes":["Multi-family residential building 1.5 per dwelling unit Home Based Business 2 for business Bed and Breakfast 1 per sleeping unit"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"},"sources_differ":"The Zoning Bylaw says the work is done in 'a dwelling unit or accessory building'; Business Licence Bylaw 662 s. 8(a) says 'within the primary dwelling unit'. The bylaws differ, so the stricter reading may apply."},"not_allowed":{"label":"Businesses not allowed","value":"Cannabis retail sales are prohibited as a home occupation. Selling goods not produced on the premises is not allowed.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"http://www.slocancity.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/633-Zoning-Bylaw-2013-CONSOLIDATED-Updated-Feb.-10-25.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 633, 2013 (PDF, consolidated Feb. 10, 2025)","section":"s. 4.24(d)","quotes":["Is prohibited as a home occupation."]},{"url":"http://www.slocancity.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/633-Zoning-Bylaw-2013-CONSOLIDATED-Updated-Feb.-10-25.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 633, 2013 (PDF, consolidated Feb. 10, 2025)","section":"s. 4.15(1)(e)","quotes":["no commodities may be offered for sale except those produced on the premises;"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Zoning Bylaw No. 633, 2013, s. 4.15; Business Licence Bylaw No. 662, 2018, s. 8.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"http://www.slocancity.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/633-Zoning-Bylaw-2013-CONSOLIDATED-Updated-Feb.-10-25.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 633, 2013 (PDF, consolidated Feb. 10, 2025)","section":"s. 4.15","quotes":["4.15 Home Based Business"]},{"url":"http://www.slocancity.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/662-Business-License-Bylaw-2018-CONSOLIDATED-Updated-April-11-22.pdf","title":"Business Licence Bylaw No. 662, 2018 (PDF, consolidated April 11, 2022)","section":"s. 8","quotes":["changes of the licence and collect any additional fees thereof. 8. HOME-BASED BUSINESS The following terms and conditions are to be given due consideration by the Licence","THE CORPORATION OF THE VILLAGE OF SLOCAN CONSOLIDATED BYLAW NO. 662 (CONSOLIDATED FOR CONVENIENCE ONLY)"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":5,"stated":5,"matched":5,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nThe Village of Slocan [Zoning Bylaw No. 633](http://www.slocancity.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/633-Zoning-Bylaw-2013-CONSOLIDATED-Updated-Feb.-10-25.pdf) (s. 4.15) allows home-based businesses in R-1, R-2 and R-3. They are not listed as a use in the commercial or industrial zones read. You also need a Category 2 business licence, $75 per annum, half if issued after June 30. In a rented home the landowner must authorize the tenant in writing ([Bylaw 662](http://www.slocancity.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/662-Business-License-Bylaw-2018-CONSOLIDATED-Updated-April-11-22.pdf) s. 8).\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Confirm your zone is R-1, R-2 or R-3.\n2. Check the limits below.\n3. Apply for a Category 2 licence at the Village Office.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Limits: floor area at most 50% of the dwelling; one non-resident employee at most; no outside change except one unlit sign up to 0.1 m²; no outdoor storage or display; no extra noise or traffic; 2 extra parking spaces.\n- Only goods produced on the premises may be sold. Cannabis retail sales are prohibited as a home occupation.\n- The two bylaws differ on where the work may happen: the Zoning Bylaw says \"a dwelling unit or accessory building\", the Business Licence Bylaw says \"within the primary dwelling unit\". Confirm with the Village Office.\n- Bed and breakfast and vacation rental are Category 3 ($100).","sources":[{"url":"http://www.slocancity.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/633-Zoning-Bylaw-2013-CONSOLIDATED-Updated-Feb.-10-25.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 633, 2013 (PDF, consolidated Feb. 10, 2025)","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"http://www.slocancity.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/662-Business-License-Bylaw-2018-CONSOLIDATED-Updated-April-11-22.pdf","title":"Business Licence Bylaw No. 662, 2018 (PDF, consolidated April 11, 2022)","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"http://www.slocancity.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/584-Fees-and-Charges-CONSOLIDATED-Updated-Feb-18-2026.pdf","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 584, Schedule I (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-08"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-08","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 5 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/slocan/home-based-business/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/slocan/home-based-business.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/slocan/home-based-business.json"}}