{"title":"Smithers home-based business rules","question":"Can I run a business from my home?","slug":"home-based-business","place":{"path":"ca/bc/smithers","name":"Smithers","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":"Town of Smithers","url":"https://www.smithers.ca"},"short_answer":"Yes. In Smithers a home occupation is allowed in a residential dwelling, inside the dwelling or a permitted auxiliary building, using no more than 40% of the dwelling's floor area. It needs a Town business licence (Home Occupation, $165 a year).","aliases":["home business smithers","home occupation smithers","run business from home smithers","home based business licence smithers"],"cost":"Home Occupation licence (class 1000): $165 a year (Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2003, Schedule J). Older Town pages show $160. An additional business is an Auxiliary Business licence at $55 a year.","how_long":"The Town does not state a time for home occupation licences. Call Development Services at 250-847-1600.","where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Development Services","value":"250-847-1600","note":"Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m."},{"type":"in_person","label":"Town Hall","value":"1027 Aldous Street, Smithers, BC"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Business Licensing, Town of Smithers","url":"https://www.smithers.ca/business-building/licences-permits-signage/business-licensing"},{"title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1987","url":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/265053/"}],"related":[{"slug":"business-licence","title":"Smithers business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/business-licence/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Smithers zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/zoning-lookup/"},{"slug":"short-term-rental","title":"Smithers short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/short-term-rental/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/telkwa","name":"Telkwa","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/telkwa/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/houston","name":"Houston","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/new-hazelton","name":"New Hazelton","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-hazelton/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/hazelton","name":"Hazelton","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hazelton/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/granisle","name":"Granisle","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/granisle/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/terrace","name":"Terrace","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/terrace/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. Home occupations are permitted in all residential dwellings, on a parcel with a dwelling unit, entirely inside the dwelling or a permitted auxiliary building, using no more than 40% of the dwelling unit's total floor area (including basements and cellars).","short":"Yes, in all residential dwellings","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/265053/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1987, s. 2.1, Town of Smithers","section":"s. 2.1.1, 2.1.2","quotes":["Home occupations are permitted in all residential dwellings.","not more than 40% of the total floor area (including basements and cellars) of the dwelling unit is occupied by the home","On a parcel of land containing one or more dwelling units; and"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"licence":{"label":"Business licence","value":"Yes. A business licence is required for home-based businesses. Class 1000, Home Occupation: $165 per year. It is issued only when the Zoning Bylaw s. 2.1 requirements are met.","short":"Yes: $165 per year","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.smithers.ca/business-building/licences-permits-signage/business-licensing","title":"Business Licensing, Town of Smithers","section":"Business License Application Guide page","quotes":["This includes businesses that are located out of town, but operate within Town boundaries and home based businesses."]},{"url":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/278063/","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2003, Schedule J, Town of Smithers","section":"Schedule J, class 1000","quotes":["1000 Home Occupation $165.00 / year"]},{"url":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/265053/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1987, s. 2.1, Town of Smithers","section":"s. 2.1.5","quotes":["Home occupation Business Licenses will only be issued and approved by the"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"},"sources_differ":"Conflict between sources: Schedule A of Business License Bylaw No. 1850 (consolidated Jan. 3, 2025) and the Town's Business License Application Guide show $160 (the guide says fees range from $160 to $1,000); Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2003 Schedule J, which s. 7.1 of Bylaw 1850 makes the source of fees, and the Town's September 2026 fee guide show $165 (range $165 to $1,030). Bylaw 2003 is followed."},"limits":{"label":"Limits","value":"Max 40% of the dwelling's floor area. No outdoor storage; no employees who do not live in the dwelling; only sell goods directly related to the home occupation; signs only as the Sign Bylaw allows; no noise, vibration, smoke, dust, odour, litter, heat, fire hazard, interference or street traffic congestion beyond what a dwelling normally has. Parking: 1 space only if clients visit.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/265053/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1987, s. 2.1, Town of Smithers","section":"s. 2.1.3; Table 2.10.2","quotes":["Store outside of a building any materials, containers or products related to the","Employ a person who does not reside in the dwelling with which the home","Sell goods except those goods directly related to the class of the home","Home occupation 1 per home occupation, where clients visit the site,"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"not_allowed":{"label":"Businesses not allowed","value":"Not allowed: a commercial stable, kennel, restaurant or convenience store; service or repair of small engines, automotive, farm, heavy or marine equipment; parking industrial or construction equipment or materials; manufacturing, welding or any other light industrial use.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/265053/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1987, s. 2.1, Town of Smithers","section":"s. 2.1.3(b), (f)","quotes":["Include a commercial stable, kennel, restaurant, convenience store, service or","Involve manufacturing, welding, or any other light industrial use; and"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1987, s. 2.1 (Home Occupations); Business License Bylaw No. 1850; Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2003, Schedule J.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/265053/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1987, s. 2.1, Town of Smithers","section":"s. 2.1","quotes":["Section 2.1 Home Occupations 2.1.1 Home occupations are permitted in all residential dwellings."]},{"url":"https://www.smithers.ca/sites/default/files/2025-01/BL%201850%20BUSINESS%20LICENSE%20%28Consolidation%20January%203%202025%29.pdf","title":"https://www.smithers.ca/sites/default/files/2025-01/BL%201850%20BUSINESS%20LICENSE%20%28Consolidation%20January%203%202025%29.pdf","section":"Title","quotes":["BYLAW NO. 1850 BUSINESS LICENSE"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":5,"stated":5,"matched":5,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nUnder section 2.1 of the [Zoning Bylaw No. 1987](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/265053/), a home occupation is permitted in all residential dwellings, on a parcel with a dwelling unit, entirely inside the dwelling or a permitted auxiliary building. It may use up to 40% of the dwelling unit's total floor area, including basements and cellars. It must also meet all municipal bylaws and the BC Building Code.\n\nLimits:\n\n- No outdoor storage.\n- No employees who do not live in the dwelling.\n- Only sell goods directly related to the home occupation.\n- Signs only as the Sign Bylaw allows.\n- No noise, vibration, smoke, dust, odour, litter, heat, fire hazard, interference or street traffic congestion beyond what a dwelling normally has.\n- Parking: 1 space, only if clients visit.\n\nNot allowed: a commercial stable, kennel, restaurant or convenience store; service or repair of small engines, automotive, farm, heavy or marine equipment; parking industrial or construction equipment or materials; manufacturing, welding or any other light industrial use.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Check that your zoning allows it (see the zoning-lookup answer).\n2. Apply for a Town business licence. It is issued only when the Zoning Bylaw s. 2.1 requirements are met.\n3. Pay the $165 annual fee once approved.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- The Town's earlier guide and Bylaw 1850 show $160. The current Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2003 shows $165; confirm at 250-847-1600.\n- Bed and breakfast and short-term rental operations follow Zoning s. 2.2 and 2.3 instead (see the short-term-rental answer).\n- Breaking the home occupation rules can bring a bylaw notice. The Penalty amount is $300; check the amount on your notice.","sources":[{"url":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/265053/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1987, s. 2.1, Town of Smithers","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.smithers.ca/business-building/licences-permits-signage/business-licensing","title":"Business Licensing, Town of Smithers","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/278063/","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2003, Schedule J, Town of Smithers","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/290948/","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2011, Town of Smithers","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.smithers.ca/sites/default/files/2025-01/BL%201850%20BUSINESS%20LICENSE%20%28Consolidation%20January%203%202025%29.pdf","title":"https://www.smithers.ca/sites/default/files/2025-01/BL%201850%20BUSINESS%20LICENSE%20%28Consolidation%20January%203%202025%29.pdf","accessed":"2026-11-06"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-06","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/smithers/home-based-business/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/home-based-business.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/home-based-business.json"}}