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

# West Kelowna home-based business rules

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

**Short answer:** Yes. In the City of West Kelowna, any business run from your principal residence needs a business licence and must follow the Zoning Bylaw as a "minor" or "major" home-based business. The licence is $60 a year, or $135 with an annual fire inspection.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of West Kelowna, https://www.westkelownacity.ca)  
**Cost:** $60 a year (no annual fire inspection) or $135 a year (with annual fire inspection). A $25 late fee applies after January 31; the fee is reduced 25%, 50% or 75% if licensed after April 1, July 1 or October 1.  
**How long:** The City says usual licence processing is two weeks. Home-based childcare needs inspections as well.  
**Where:**
- In person: Business Licence Desk, City Hall, 3731 Old Okanagan Highway, West Kelowna, BC V4T 0G7 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
- Phone: Business Licencing, 778-797-8811
- Email: Business Licencing, business.licence@westkelownacity.ca
- Phone: Development Services (zoning), 778-797-8830

## Key facts

- **Allowed:** Yes. Home based businesses are minor or major. Major is a listed secondary use in A1, RU1 to RU5, RC1 to RC3, R1, R1M, R1L and RP1; minor is listed in multi-family, commercial and centre zones, among others. Check your zone's use list.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 0320, section 3.16, s. 3.16; zone secondary uses](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/westkelownacity-ca/media/fcyptsg5/b0320-zoning-bylaw-consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "A minor home based business shall:" … "A major home based business shall:" … "Home based business, major" … "Home based business, minor"
  - Source: [Business Licences, Home-Based Business Licence](https://www.westkelownacity.ca/building-business-development/business-licences/)
  - Official wording: "Any business being operated from a principal residence is considered to be a Home-Based Business"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Business licence:** Yes. A business licence is required for any business run from a principal residence. Fee $60 a year (no annual fire inspection) or $135 (with annual fire inspection). Late fee $25 after January 31; fee reduced 25%, 50% or 75% if licensed after April 1, July 1 or October 1.
  - Source: [Business Licences, Home-Based Business Licence; Business Licence Fees](https://www.westkelownacity.ca/building-business-development/business-licences/)
  - Official wording: "Any business being operated from a principal residence is considered to be a Home-Based Business, and requires to a valid business licence." … "Basic licence: $60 per year." … "Home-based businesses that do not require a fire inspection."
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 0028, Schedule 16](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/westkelownacity-ca/media/cbpflexp/b0028-fees-and-charges-consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "18 Home Occupations $60 (no annual Fire Inspection) $135 (with annual Fire Inspection)"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Limits:** Minor: inside the dwelling only; max 25% of floor area up to 20 m²; 1 client visit at a time; no non-resident employees; one unlit sign up to 3000 cm2. Major: 50 m² (100 m² on parcels of 0.5 ha or more, 150 m² in agricultural zones); outdoor storage only on parcels of 0.5 ha or more; up to 3 client visits and 2 non-resident employees at a time.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 0320, section 3.16, s. 3.16.1, 3.16.2, Table 3.6](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/westkelownacity-ca/media/fcyptsg5/b0320-zoning-bylaw-consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Occupy more than 25% of the gross floor area of the dwelling unit to a maximum of 20 m2 (215.3 ft2), except for a care facility." … "Generate more than 1 client visit to the premises at any one time, except for a care facility." … "Employ a person who does not reside in the dwelling unit, except for a care facility." … "Have more than 1 non-internally illuminated sign to a maximum size of 3000 cm 2" … "Parcels less than 0.5 ha Within the dwelling A combined maximum of 50 No outdoor storage" … "Generate more than 3 client visits at any one time" … "Employ more than 2 persons in the business who do not reside in the dwelling unit, except for a care facility." … "100 m2 (1,076.4 ft2), with the" … "150 m2 (1,614.6 ft2), with the"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Businesses not allowed:** Repair or painting of vehicles, trailers, boats, commercial or industrial equipment, welding or machine shops, and spray painting or coating operations are not allowed in a minor home business; in a major one they are allowed only on parcels of 0.5 ha or more.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 0320, section 3.16, s. 3.16.1(b)vi, 3.16.2(b)iii](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/westkelownacity-ca/media/fcyptsg5/b0320-zoning-bylaw-consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Involve the repair or painting of vehicles, trailers, boats, commercial equipment or industrial equipment, welding or machine shops, spray painting or spray coating operations." … "except for major home based businesses which are located on parcels which are equal to or greater than 0.5 ha (1.2 ac)."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** City of West Kelowna Zoning Bylaw No. 0320, 2024 (s. 3.16); City of West Kelowna Business Licensing and Regulations Bylaw No. 0087, 2010; Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 0028, 2009 (Schedule 16)
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 0320, section 3.16, s. 3.16](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/westkelownacity-ca/media/fcyptsg5/b0320-zoning-bylaw-consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "3.16 HOME BASED BUSINESSES"
  - Source: [Business Licensing and Regulations Bylaw No. 0087, s. 1.1](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/westkelownacity-ca/media/faunbatr/b0087-business_licensing_and_regulations.pdf)
  - Official wording: "City of West Kelowna Business Licensing and Regulations Bylaw No. 0087, 2010"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under [Zoning Bylaw 0320](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/westkelownacity-ca/media/fcyptsg5/b0320-zoning-bylaw-consolidated.pdf) section 3.16, home-based businesses are minor or major. A major one is a listed secondary use in A1, RU1 to RU5, RC1 to RC3, R1, R1M, R1L and RP1. A minor one is listed in multi-family, commercial and centre zones, among others. Check your zone's use list.

A business licence is required for any business run from a principal residence.

## Steps

1. Check your zone on WestMap or with Development Services (778-797-8830).
2. Work out whether you are minor or major (see below).
3. Apply in person at the Business Licence Desk at City Hall and pay the fee.

## Good to know

- Minor: inside the dwelling only; maximum 25% of floor area up to 20 m²; one client visit at a time; no non-resident employees; one unlit sign up to 3,000 cm².
- Major: 50 m² (100 m² on parcels of 0.5 ha or more, 150 m² in agricultural zones); up to 3 client visits and 2 non-resident employees at a time; at least one employee must live in the dwelling (except in A1). Outdoor storage is only on parcels of 0.5 ha or more.
- Vehicle, trailer or boat repair or painting, welding or machine shops, and spray painting are not allowed in a minor home business. In a major one they are allowed only on parcels of 0.5 ha or more.
- Parking: 1 space per non-resident employee and 1 per client.
- Home-based childcare for 8 or fewer children also needs Health Authority licensing, fire and building inspections.
- Breaking the home business rules is a $500 bylaw notice or a $500 municipal ticket.

## Official forms and pages

- [Business Licences, City of West Kelowna](https://www.westkelownacity.ca/building-business-development/business-licences/)
- [Zoning Bylaw 0320, section 3.16 (PDF)](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/westkelownacity-ca/media/fcyptsg5/b0320-zoning-bylaw-consolidated.pdf)

## Related questions

- [West Kelowna business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-kelowna/business-licence.md)
- [West Kelowna zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-kelowna/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)
- [Peachland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/peachland/home-based-business.md)
- [Kelowna](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kelowna/home-based-business.md)
- [Lake Country](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-country/home-based-business.md)
- [Summerland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/summerland/home-based-business.md)
- [Penticton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/penticton/home-based-business.md)
- [Vernon](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vernon/home-based-business.md)

## Sources

- [Business Licences, City of West Kelowna](https://www.westkelownacity.ca/building-business-development/business-licences/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 0320, section 3.16 (PDF)](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/westkelownacity-ca/media/fcyptsg5/b0320-zoning-bylaw-consolidated.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 0028, Schedule 16 (PDF)](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/westkelownacity-ca/media/cbpflexp/b0028-fees-and-charges-consolidated.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Business Licensing and Regulations Bylaw No. 0087 (PDF)](https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/westkelownacity-ca/media/faunbatr/b0087-business_licensing_and_regulations.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning Bylaw, City of West Kelowna](https://www.westkelownacity.ca/city-hall/bylaws/zoning-bylaw/) (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 City of West Kelowna. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-kelowna/home-based-business/_