West Kelowna home-based business rules
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.
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.Zoning Bylaw No. 0320, section 3.16, s. 3.16; zone secondary uses; Business Licences, Home-Based Business Licence · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingA minor home based business shall: A major home based business shall: Home based business, major Home based business, minor Any business being operated from a principal residence is considered to be a Home-Based Business |
|---|---|
| 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.Business Licences, Home-Based Business Licence; Business Licence Fees; Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 0028, Schedule 16 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingAny 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. 18 Home Occupations $60 (no annual Fire Inspection) $135 (with annual Fire Inspection) |
| 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.Zoning Bylaw No. 0320, section 3.16, s. 3.16.1, 3.16.2, Table 3.6 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingOccupy 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 |
| 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.Zoning Bylaw No. 0320, section 3.16, s. 3.16.1(b)vi, 3.16.2(b)iii · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingInvolve 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). |
| 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)Zoning Bylaw No. 0320, section 3.16, s. 3.16; Business Licensing and Regulations Bylaw No. 0087, s. 1.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wording3.16 HOME BASED BUSINESSES City of West Kelowna Business Licensing and Regulations Bylaw No. 0087, 2010 |
How it works
Under Zoning Bylaw 0320 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
- Check your zone on WestMap or with Development Services (778-797-8830).
- Work out whether you are minor or major (see below).
- 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
The same question in other places
Peachland · Kelowna · Lake Country · Summerland · Penticton · Vernon
Home-based business rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Business Licences, City of West Kelowna (read 2026-11-05)
- Zoning Bylaw No. 0320, section 3.16 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 0028, Schedule 16 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Business Licensing and Regulations Bylaw No. 0087 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Zoning Bylaw, City of West Kelowna (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. How answers are checked.