---
title: Telkwa home-based business rules
question: "Can I run a business from my home in Telkwa?"
place: Telkwa, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/telkwa
category: Starting and running a business
owner: municipal
owner_body: Village of Telkwa
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/telkwa/home-based-business/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/telkwa/home-based-business.json"
---

# Telkwa home-based business rules

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

**Short answer:** Yes. Telkwa allows a Home Business, a small-scale professional or personal service run by residents, in zones that list it as an accessory use, including R1 and R2. You need a Village business licence, which costs $127.56 a year for a home-based business.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Village of Telkwa, https://www.telkwa.ca)  
**Cost:** $127.56 a year (Home Occupation/Home-Based Business licence).  
**How long:** Not stated for home businesses; see the business-licence answer.  
**Where:**
- In person: Village Office, 1415 Hankin Avenue, Telkwa, BC V0J 2X0 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. and statutory holidays).)
- Phone: Village Office, 250-846-5212
- Email: Village Office, info@telkwa.ca

## Key facts

- **Allowed:** Yes, as a Home Business: a small-scale professional or personal service run by residents, in zones that list it as an accessory use, including R1 and R2.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2022 (PDF, "Consolidated 2023"), s. 1 "Home Business"](https://telkwa.civicweb.net/document/32707/)
  - Official wording: "HOME BUSINESS means a small-scale business that provides professional or Personal Services carried out within the Principal Dwelling Unit or an Accessory Building."
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2022 (PDF, "Consolidated 2023"), s. 5.2.2 (R1), 6.2.2 (R2)](https://telkwa.civicweb.net/document/32707/)
  - Official wording: ".7 Home Business .8 Short-Term Rental Accommodation" … ".3 Home Business .4 Short-Term Rental Accommodation"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Business licence:** Yes. Every Home Business needs a valid Village business licence. Home Occupation/Home-Based Business: $127.56 a year.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2022 (PDF, "Consolidated 2023"), s. 3.15.1](https://telkwa.civicweb.net/document/32707/)
  - Official wording: "All Home Businesses must hold a valid Business Licence from the Village of Telkwa."
  - Source: [Consolidated Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 792, 2025, Schedule A, Business Licence](https://telkwa.civicweb.net/document/36216/)
  - Official wording: "Home Occupation/Home-Based Business $ 127.56"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Limits:** Run only by residents of the dwelling, wholly inside it or an accessory building, with no outside storage. No offensive noise, odour or traffic; no bulk commercial deliveries; no activity 10 p.m. to 8 a.m.; at most 10 visitors a day; 1 parking space plus the home's own; at most one commercial vehicle parked unless enclosed.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2022 (PDF, "Consolidated 2023"), s. 3.15.3, 3.15.6, 3.15.7, 3.15.8](https://telkwa.civicweb.net/document/32707/)
  - Official wording: "will involve no external storage of materials, containers, or finished products." … "Home Business activities are not permitted between the hours of 10:00 pm and 8:00 am." … "including not more than ten (10) visitors or customers a day." … "Home Businesses must be Accessory to the use of the Principal Dwelling for Residential purposes and must be operated solely by residents of the Principal Dwelling."
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2022 (PDF, "Consolidated 2023"), Table 16.1](https://telkwa.civicweb.net/document/32707/)
  - Official wording: "Home Business (see also 3.15.9) 1 per Home Business plus required spaces for Principal Dwelling"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Businesses not allowed:** Only the listed activities and similar ones are allowed (home sales, artist studio, teacher or tutor, offices, seamstress, computer repair, hair and massage, catering, pet grooming, day care for up to eight children). Excluded: retail cannabis, audio recording studios, medical, dental, chiropractic and veterinary offices, anything using flammable or explosive vapours.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2022 (PDF, "Consolidated 2023"), s. 3.15.10](https://telkwa.civicweb.net/document/32707/)
  - Official wording: "Home Business excludes retail Cannabis sales. Only the following activities and similar type activities are permitted as Home Businesses:" … "Business and professional Offices other than a medical, dental or chiropractic Office or veterinary practitioner;" … "Artist studio for the production of arts, crafts, videography, and photography arts, but not including an audio recording studio;"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2022 (PDF, "Consolidated 2023"), s. 3.15.5](https://telkwa.civicweb.net/document/32707/)
  - Official wording: "A Home Business is not permitted to use or store materials or processes that produce flammable explosive vapours or gases."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2022, ss. 3.15 (Home Businesses) and 3.16 (Home Industries); Business Licence Bylaw No. 748, 2022.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2022 (PDF, "Consolidated 2023"), title](https://telkwa.civicweb.net/document/32707/)
  - Official wording: "The Village of Telkwa Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2022"
  - Source: [Bylaws library (Business Licence Bylaw No. 748, 2022), Village document library listing](https://telkwa.civicweb.net/filepro/documents/2525/)
  - Official wording: "Business Licence Bylaw No. 748, 2022"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

[Zoning Bylaw No. 747](https://telkwa.civicweb.net/document/32707/), s. 3.15, allows a Home Business in zones that list it as an accessory use: R1, R2, R3, C1, C2 and C3. It must be run only by residents of the dwelling, wholly inside the home or an accessory building, with no outside storage.

Allowed activities are the listed ones and similar: home sales, artist studio, teacher or tutor, offices, seamstress, computer repair, hair and massage, catering, pet grooming, and day care for up to eight children. Not allowed: retail cannabis, audio recording studios, medical, dental, chiropractic and veterinary offices, and anything using flammable or explosive vapours.

## Steps

1. Confirm your zone allows a Home Business (see the zoning-lookup answer).
2. Submit a Village business licence application; every Home Business needs a valid licence.
3. Pay the annual fee of $127.56.

## Good to know

- Limits: no offensive noise, odour or traffic; no bulk commercial deliveries; no activity from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m.; at most 10 visitors a day; 1 parking space plus the home's own; at most one commercial vehicle parked unless enclosed.
- Home Industries (trades such as welding or carpentry) are allowed only on R1 parcels over 0.25 ha (s. 3.16.6).
- The Business Licence FAQ says licences cost between $90 and $300; the fee schedule in the bylaw says $127.56 for home-based. Confirm with the Village.

## Official forms and pages

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2022 (PDF)](https://telkwa.civicweb.net/document/32707/)
- [Business Licences, Village of Telkwa](https://www.telkwa.ca/business-licences)

## Related questions

- [Telkwa business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/telkwa/business-licence.md)
- [Telkwa short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/telkwa/short-term-rental.md)
- [Telkwa zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/telkwa/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)
- [Smithers](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/home-based-business.md)
- [Houston](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/home-based-business.md)
- [Granisle](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/granisle/home-based-business.md)
- [New Hazelton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-hazelton/home-based-business.md)
- [Hazelton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hazelton/home-based-business.md)
- [Terrace](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/terrace/home-based-business.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2022 (PDF, "Consolidated 2023"), Village of Telkwa](https://telkwa.civicweb.net/document/32707/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Consolidated Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 792, 2025 (PDF), Village of Telkwa](https://telkwa.civicweb.net/document/36216/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaws library (Business Licence Bylaw No. 748, 2022), Village of Telkwa](https://telkwa.civicweb.net/filepro/documents/2525/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Business Licences, Village of Telkwa](https://www.telkwa.ca/business-licences) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Business Licence Quick Guide (PDF), Village of Telkwa](https://13721588-f9b1-4620-990b-6d30bd8bee43.filesusr.com/ugd/a93d86_27ec0b0d5ad549f8a7d3858461c8f463.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)

_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 Village of Telkwa. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/telkwa/home-based-business/_