Wells home-based business rules
Can I run a business from my home in Wells?
Yes. In Wells, the Zoning Bylaw allows a home occupation or home industry in most residential zones. A home occupation must stay within 40% of the floor area, up to 75 m², with at most two non-resident employees. No business licence is posted.
Key facts
| Allowed | Yes, as a home occupation or home industry ancillary to a residential use: allowed in R 1, R 1A, R 2, RR 1, RR 2, RC and R/A zones. R 3 and R 4 allow a home occupation; home industry only inside the principal dwelling.District of Wells Zoning Bylaw No. 26, 2000, ss. 3.6 and 3.7, s. 4.8.1(b)(ii) and similar in 4.9, 4.10, 4.13, 4.14, 4.4; District of Wells Zoning Bylaw No. 26, 2000, ss. 3.6 and 3.7, s. 4.11.1(b) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordinga home occupation or a home industry ancillary to a permitted residential use No person shall, within any R/A zone, use any lot or erect, alter or use any building or structure for any purpose except one or more of the following R/A uses a home occupation or a home industry ancillary to a permitted residential a home occupation ancillary to a permitted residential use home industry if limited to the interior of the principal dwelling |
|---|---|
| Business licence | Not confirmed. No business licence bylaw or fee was found in the District's posted documents. |
| Limits | Inside the dwelling or an ancillary building only; at most 40% of the floor area, up to 75 m²; at most two non-resident employees; one unilluminated sign up to 0.84 m²; no outdoor storage or display (up to three finished products allowed); no retail except catalogue or own-product sales.District of Wells Zoning Bylaw No. 26, 2000, ss. 3.6 and 3.7; District of Wells Zoning Bylaw No. 26, 2000, ss. 3.6 and 3.7, s. 3.6(g)-(h); District of Wells Zoning Bylaw No. 26, 2000, ss. 3.6 and 3.7, s. 3.6(c), (e), (f) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordinga home occupation shall not be permitted in any zone unless such home occupation conforms to the following provisions the activity shall be confined to the interior of the principal dwelling or to the interior of an ancillary building not more than 40% of the gross floor area of the residential dwelling shall be used for the home occupation use, up to a total maximum area of 75 square metres no more than two persons who are not residents of the dwelling to which the home occupation is ancillary may be employed in the activity except for one unilluminated sign not larger than 0.84 square metre except for the display of a maximum of three finished products produced on the premises except for catalogue sales, products or commodities produced on the premises |
| Businesses not allowed | None set. Wells' bylaw has no list of banned home businesses. |
| Bylaw | District of Wells Zoning Bylaw (Bylaw No. 26, 2000; the amending bylaws call it the Zoning and Tree Protection Bylaw), s. 3.6 (home occupation) and s. 3.7 (home industry)District of Wells Zoning Bylaw No. 26, 2000, ss. 3.6 and 3.7 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingexisting on the date of passing of this bylaw. 3.6 HOME OCCUPATION Notwithstanding any other provisions of this bylaw to the contrary, a home occupation shall residential use, but not ancillary to a permitted non-residential use; District of Wells Zoning Bylaw 26 (c) no alteration may be made to the external appearance of the property which indicates |
How it works
The Zoning Bylaw allows a home occupation or home industry ancillary to a residential use in the R 1, R 1A, R 2, RR 1, RR 2, RC and R/A zones. R 3 and R 4 allow a home occupation, and a home industry only inside the principal dwelling. This applies only to lots in those zones; the zone of a lot is on the Zoning Maps.
Home occupation limits (s. 3.6):
- Inside the dwelling or an ancillary building only.
- At most 40% of the floor area, up to 75 m².
- At most two non-resident employees.
- One unilluminated sign up to 0.84 m².
- No outdoor storage or display (up to three finished products allowed).
- No retail except catalogue or own-product sales.
- No noise, vibration, dust, smoke, odour, heat or traffic beyond what is normal for a dwelling.
A home industry (s. 3.7) has similar limits, but up to 150 m² on lots of 0.4 ha or more, and up to two vehicles for repair outdoors.
Steps
- Find your lot's zone and check that it allows a home occupation or home industry.
- Compare your plans with the limits above.
- Ask the District Office whether any other approval applies.
Good to know
- No business licence bylaw or fee was found in the District's posted documents. See the business-licence answer.
- The bylaw has no list of banned home businesses; the limits above apply to all.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Quesnel · Williams Lake · McBride · Prince George · 100 Mile House · Valemount
Home-based business rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- District of Wells Zoning Bylaw No. 26, 2000, ss. 3.6 and 3.7 (PDF) (read 2026-11-08)
Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 3 of 5 facts was matched to the official text; 1 is recorded as not set; 1 could not be confirmed. How answers are checked.