{"title":"Stewart home-based business rules","question":"Can I run a business from my home?","slug":"home-based-business","place":{"path":"ca/bc/stewart","name":"Stewart","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":"District of Stewart","url":"https://districtofstewart.com"},"short_answer":"Yes. In Stewart a home occupation is allowed in the R1, R2 and MHP zones if you live there and follow the zoning limits. You also need a business licence, using the Home Based Business option on the District's application form.","aliases":["home business stewart","home occupation stewart bc","work from home business licence stewart","district of stewart home based business"],"cost":"Business licence fees vary by type of business; see the business-licence answer.","how_long":"Not stated.","where":[{"type":"in_person","label":"District office","value":"705 Brightwell Street, Stewart, BC","note":"Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m."},{"type":"phone","label":"District office","value":"250-636-2251"},{"type":"email","label":"Business licence applications","value":"info@districtofstewart.com"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Business Licensing, District of Stewart","url":"https://districtofstewart.com/business-resources/business-licensing"},{"title":"Business Licence Amending Bylaw No. 927, 2018 and application form (PDF)","url":"https://districtofstewart.civicweb.net/document/4682/"},{"title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 881, 2014 (PDF)","url":"https://districtofstewart.civicweb.net/document/928/"}],"related":[{"slug":"business-licence","title":"Stewart business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/stewart/business-licence/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Stewart zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/stewart/zoning-lookup/"},{"slug":"short-term-rental","title":"Stewart short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/stewart/short-term-rental/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/hazelton","name":"Hazelton","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hazelton/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/terrace","name":"Terrace","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/terrace/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/prince-rupert","name":"Prince Rupert","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-rupert/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/port-edward","name":"Port Edward","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-edward/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/smithers","name":"Smithers","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/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 occupation is a permitted use in the R1, R2 and MHP zones.","short":"Yes, in R1, R2 and MHP zones","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://districtofstewart.civicweb.net/document/928/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 881, 2014 (PDF)","section":"s. 5.1, 6.1, 8.1","quotes":["The following uses and no others are permitted in the MHP zone:","Home occupation; and"]},{"url":"https://districtofstewart.civicweb.net/document/928/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 881, 2014 (PDF)","section":"s. 5.1 (R1)","quotes":["8.1. The following uses and no others are permitted in the MHP zone: .1 Manufactured home park; .2 Mobile homes; .3 Home occupation; and .4 Accessory building. Regulations 8.2. On a parcel located in an area zoned as MHP, no building or structure shall be constructed,"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"licence":{"label":"Business licence","value":"The Business Licence Application has a 'Home Based Business' option and asks the applicant to read and sign the Zoning Bylaw excerpt; the District looks closely at what business will be run in a home.","short":"Yes; fee not stated","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://districtofstewart.civicweb.net/document/4682/","title":"Business Licence Amending Bylaw No. 927, 2018 and application form (PDF)","section":"Application form","quotes":["New Licence C] Non-Resident[:] Mobile Business [:3 Home Based Business D Change of Owner or Address C]"]},{"url":"https://districtofstewart.com/business-resources/business-licensing","title":"Business Licensing, District of Stewart","section":"Business Licensing page","quotes":["This includes a business that is being conducted in a home."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"limits":{"label":"Limits","value":"Only a resident of the dwelling may operate it. It must be wholly inside the dwelling or an accessory building with no external storage. Only one wall-mounted sign up to 0.36 m². No operating between 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. Customers should not exceed 10 a day.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://districtofstewart.civicweb.net/document/928/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 881, 2014 (PDF)","section":"s. 3.47 to 3.52","quotes":["A home occupation shall only be operated by a resident of the dwelling unit in which the home","shall involve no external storage of materials, containers or finished products.","not exceeding 0.36 square metres.","No home occupation shall be conducted between the hours of 10:00 pm and 8:00 am.","should not exceed 10 visitors or customers per day."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"not_allowed":{"label":"Businesses not allowed","value":"Not permitted: offensive noise, vibration, traffic, smoke, dust, odour, glare, heat or electrical interference; exterior alterations out of keeping with a residential area; flammable explosive vapours or gases; bulk deliveries by commercial vehicles or trailers; customer traffic beyond what is customary in a residential area.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://districtofstewart.civicweb.net/document/928/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 881, 2014 (PDF)","section":"s. 3.48","quotes":["A home occupation is not permitted that:","Produces any offensive noise, vibration, traffic, smoke, dust, odour, glare, heat or","Utilizes materials or processes that produce flammable explosive vapours or gases under","Requires the delivery or removal of materials or products in bulk by commercial vehicles or"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Zoning Bylaw No. 881, 2014 (home occupations, s. 3.46 to 3.52)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://districtofstewart.com/business-resources/developing-in-the-district/building-permits","title":"Building Permits | District of Stewart","section":"Building Permits page","quotes":["Zoning Bylaw 881, 2014"]}],"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\n[Zoning Bylaw No. 881](https://districtofstewart.civicweb.net/document/928/) allows a home occupation in the R1, R2 and MHP zones. The [Business Licence Application](https://districtofstewart.civicweb.net/document/4682/) has a \"Home Based Business\" option and asks you to read and sign the zoning bylaw excerpt. The District looks closely at what business will be run in a home.\n\nLimits:\n\n- Only a resident of the dwelling may operate it.\n- It must be wholly inside the dwelling or an accessory building, with no external storage.\n- One wall-mounted sign only, up to 0.36 m².\n- No operating between 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m.\n- Customers should not exceed 10 a day.\n\nNot permitted: offensive noise, vibration, traffic, smoke, dust, odour, glare, heat or electrical interference; exterior alterations out of keeping with a residential area; flammable or explosive vapours or gases; bulk deliveries by commercial vehicles or trailers; and customer traffic beyond what is customary in a residential area.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Confirm your zone is R1, R2 or MHP (see zoning-lookup).\n2. Fill in the Business Licence Application and choose \"Home Based Business\".\n3. Send it to info@districtofstewart.com or deliver it to 705 Brightwell Street, as the business-licence answer describes.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Licence fees vary by type of business; see the business-licence answer.\n- Home occupation is not listed in other zones in the rules we read; ask the District.","sources":[{"url":"https://districtofstewart.civicweb.net/document/928/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 881, 2014 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://districtofstewart.civicweb.net/document/4682/","title":"Business Licence Amending Bylaw No. 927, 2018 and application form (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://districtofstewart.com/business-resources/business-licensing","title":"Business Licensing, District of Stewart","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://districtofstewart.com/business-resources/developing-in-the-district/building-permits","title":"Building Permits | District of Stewart","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/stewart/home-based-business/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/stewart/home-based-business.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/stewart/home-based-business.json"}}