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

# Summerland home-based business rules

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

**Short answer:** Yes, in the District of Summerland if you live there, your zone allows it, and you hold a business licence. There are three types of home occupation. Annual licence fees are $50 (Type 1), $125 (Type 2) and $175 (Type 3).

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Summerland, https://www.summerland.ca)  
**Cost:** Type 1 $50, Type 2 $125, Type 3 $175 a year (50% if applied for after July 31).  
**How long:** Not stated.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Development Services (zoning), 250-494-1373
- Email: Development Services, devserv@summerland.ca
- Phone: Bylaw Services (licence), 250-494-6451 ext. 4
- Email: Bylaw Services, bylaw@summerland.ca

## Key facts

- **Allowed:** Yes, as an accessory use run by a resident of the dwelling: Types 1, 2 or 3 in A1, A2, CR1 and FG; Types 1 or 2 in RU1, RU2, RU3 and RMH; Type 1 only in RMD, RHD and parts of CD3, CD7 and CD9.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 2000-450, Schedule A, consolidated to March 3, 2026 (s. 7.6), s. 7.6; zone accessory-use lists (8.1.3, 9.1.3, 10.1.3, 10.3.3, 10.4.3, 10.6.3)](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/city-services/emergency-response/2026-bald-range-wildfire/schedule-%27a%27---consolidated-to-march-3-2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Home Occupation - Type 1,2 or 3, subject to Section 7.6;" … "Home Occupation - Type 1 or 2, subject to Section 7.6;" … "Home Occupation - Type 1, subject to Section 7.6;" … "where the proprietor is also a resident of the" … "Home Occupation - Type 1,2 or 3, subject to Section 7.6; and" … "Home Occupation - Type 1, subject to Section 7.6."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Business licence:** Yes. All home occupations must be licensed. Annual fee: Type 1 $50, Type 2 $125, Type 3 $175 (50% if applied for after July 31). Business Licencing Bylaw s. 18 still describes only two types; zoning and the fee schedule have three. (Sources differ: The Business Licencing Bylaw 95-004 s. 18 (consolidated to Feb 2022) still defines only two home occupation types; the zoning bylaw and the fee schedule have three.)
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 2000-450, Schedule A, consolidated to March 3, 2026 (s. 7.6), s. 7.6.2(g)](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/city-services/emergency-response/2026-bald-range-wildfire/schedule-%27a%27---consolidated-to-march-3-2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "all Home Occupations must be licensed in accordance with the"
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw 98-001, Schedule F, Schedule F (Business Licence Fees)](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/fees-and-charges-no-98-001-consolidated-to-feb-10-20269da7a85cf68d6e33909cff00007e7f94.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Home Occupation Type 1 $50" … "Home Occupation Type 2 $125" … "Home Occupation Type 3 $175"
  - Source: [Business Licencing Bylaw 95-004, s. 18](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/business-licencing-bylaw-no-95-004---consolidated-to-february-28-2022.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Home Occupation Businesses are classified into the following two types"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Limits:** All types: no external storage or display, no nuisance, parking on site, signs per Signage Bylaw 2000-451. Type 1: phone and records only, residents only, no clients, up to 25% of floor area (max 20 m²). Type 2: house plus one accessory building, one non-resident employee, max 50 m², up to two clients at a time. Type 3: lot of 0.8 ha or more, two non-resident employees, max 100 m².
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 2000-450, Schedule A, consolidated to March 3, 2026 (s. 7.6), s. 7.6.2 to 7.6.5](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/city-services/emergency-response/2026-bald-range-wildfire/schedule-%27a%27---consolidated-to-march-3-2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "the Home Occupation shall have no external storage or display of" … "the Home Occupation - Type 1 shall not generate any clients to the" … "only one person other than residents of the Dwelling shall be" … "the Home Occupation - Type 2 shall not generate more than two" … "having a minimum Lot size of 0.8 ha;" … "no more than two persons other than the residents of the principal"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Businesses not allowed:** Automotive and equipment repair shops, autobody repair shops, eating and drinking establishments, commercial kennels, veterinary clinics, animal shelters, group homes, child care centres, health services, retail cannabis sales and cannabis production are not home occupations.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 2000-450, Schedule A, consolidated to March 3, 2026 (s. 7.6), Definition of Home Occupation (s. 2)](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/city-services/emergency-response/2026-bald-range-wildfire/schedule-%27a%27---consolidated-to-march-3-2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "This does not include Uses such as Automotive & Equipment Repair Shops, Autobody Repair Shops, Eating & Drinking Establishments, Commercial Kennels, Veterinary Clinics, Animal Shelters (Major and Minor), Group Homes, Child Care Centres," … "Health Services, Retail Cannabis Sales, and Cannabis Production."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw No. 2000-450, s. 7.6; Business Licencing Bylaw No. 95-004; Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 98-001, Schedule F
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 2000-450, Schedule A, consolidated to March 3, 2026 (s. 7.6)](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/city-services/emergency-response/2026-bald-range-wildfire/schedule-%27a%27---consolidated-to-march-3-2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Summerland Zoning Bylaw 2000-450"
  - Source: [Business Licencing Bylaw 95-004, s. 18, title](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/business-licencing-bylaw-no-95-004---consolidated-to-february-28-2022.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Bylaw No. 95-004 Consolidated to February 28, 2022"
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw 98-001, Schedule F](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/fees-and-charges-no-98-001-consolidated-to-feb-10-20269da7a85cf68d6e33909cff00007e7f94.pdf)
  - Official wording: "SCHEDULE "F" BUSINESS LICENCE FEES Unless otherwise indicated, the Licence Fee is for a Twelve Month Period Commencing" … "2 For licences that are issued for a 12 month period, if a license is applied for after July 31 of a year, the licence fee for that first year shall be pro-rated 50% of the subjected licence fee (s. 4 of Business Licensing Bylaw 95-004). 3 An inter-community licence fee is an additional fee that is charged to allow a business to operate within the" … "THE CORPORATION OF THE DISTRICT OF SUMMERLAND BYLAW NUMBER 98-001 CONSOLIDATED FOR CONVENIENCE TO INCLUDE BYLAWS:"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

[Zoning Bylaw 2000-450](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/city-services/emergency-response/2026-bald-range-wildfire/schedule-%27a%27---consolidated-to-march-3-2026.pdf) (s. 7.6) lets a resident of a dwelling run a home occupation as an accessory use. By zone: Types 1, 2 or 3 in A1, A2, CR1 and FG; Types 1 or 2 in RU1, RU2, RU3 and RMH; Type 1 only in RMD, RHD and parts of CD3, CD7 and CD9. Other zones may also list it. All home occupations must be licensed.

## Steps

1. Ask Development Services whether your zone allows the type you want.
2. Check your plans against the limits below.
3. Apply for a business licence and pay the fee for your type (see business-licence).

## Good to know

- All types: no outside storage or display, no nuisance, parking on your own site, and signs must follow Signage Bylaw 2000-451.
- Type 1: phone and records only, residents only, no clients, up to 25% of floor area (maximum 20 m²).
- Type 2: the house plus one accessory building, one non-resident employee, maximum 50 m², up to two clients at a time.
- Type 3: lot of 0.8 ha or more, two non-resident employees, maximum 100 m².
- Types 1 and 2 may not park a commercial vehicle over 5,600 kg. Types 2 and 3 allow no retail sales other than the business's own finished product.
- Not home occupations: automotive and equipment repair, autobody shops, eating and drinking places, commercial kennels, veterinary clinics, animal shelters, group homes, child care centres, health services, and cannabis retail or production.
- The Business Licencing Bylaw (s. 18) still describes only two types, while zoning and the fee schedule have three. Zoning governs; confirm with the District.

## Official forms and pages

- [Zoning Bylaw 2000-450, Schedule A (PDF), section 7.6](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/city-services/emergency-response/2026-bald-range-wildfire/schedule-%27a%27---consolidated-to-march-3-2026.pdf)
- [Business Licencing Bylaw 95-004 (PDF)](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/business-licencing-bylaw-no-95-004---consolidated-to-february-28-2022.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Summerland business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/summerland/business-licence.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Home-based business rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/home-based-business.md)
- [Penticton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/penticton/home-based-business.md)
- [Peachland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/peachland/home-based-business.md)
- [West Kelowna](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-kelowna/home-based-business.md)
- [Kelowna](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kelowna/home-based-business.md)
- [Keremeos](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/keremeos/home-based-business.md)
- [Oliver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oliver/home-based-business.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw 2000-450, Schedule A (PDF), consolidated to March 3, 2026 (s. 7.6)](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/city-services/emergency-response/2026-bald-range-wildfire/schedule-%27a%27---consolidated-to-march-3-2026.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw 98-001 (PDF), Schedule F](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/fees-and-charges-no-98-001-consolidated-to-feb-10-20269da7a85cf68d6e33909cff00007e7f94.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Business Licencing Bylaw 95-004 (PDF), s. 18](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/business-licencing-bylaw-no-95-004---consolidated-to-february-28-2022.pdf) (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 District of Summerland. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/summerland/home-based-business/_