Home-Based Business Information

Businesses that operate from a residential structure are subject to the Home-Based Business Standards in Section 12-2-404 of the Land Development Code (LDC). These businesses should be secondary to the primary use of the home as a residence and should not negatively impact the character or quality of life in the City’s neighborhoods.

Home-Based Business Standards

Standards that apply to all home-based businesses are listed below.

Overview

If you are interested in opening a home-based business, please consider the following guidelines:

  • The business must be registered with the City and adhere to City standards
  • Operations must be conducted entirely within the main residence
  • There may be up to one employee who does not live at the residence
  • Outdoor storage, displays or advertising is not allowed
  • Excessive storage of hazardous materials is not allowed
  • Excessive noise, odors, smoke, dust, glare or light is not allowed
  • Commercial vehicles, equipment and trailers associated with the business are not allowed on the property
  • Deliveries to and from the home by commercial vehicles are prohibited
  • Businesses not compatible with a residential neighborhood are not allowed

Prohibited Home-Based Businesses

Home offices associated with a prohibited home-based business (list below) are not allowed in the City unless all business activities occur off-site. The following home-based businesses are prohibited:

  • Butchers
  • Car wash, other vehicle wash or detailing
  • Dry cleaners
  • Funeral homes and mortuaries
  • Heavy industry including auto salvage
  • Kennels
  • Landscape or contracting businesses with outside storage or outside staging of, or repair to, major equipment; or more than one employee reporting to the home
  • Large appliance repair
  • Light automobile service/gas station including manufacture and sales of biofuels
  • Medical or dental offices - except counseling
  • Overnight accommodations
  • Personal services that are provided to more than one client at a time
  • Recycling and disposal facilities
  • Restaurants
  • On-premise retail sales - except if the retail sales are incidental to the provision of personal or professional services; or do not involve customer visits to the premises; or occur at invitation only events held indoors, not more than one time per month
  • Vehicle sales, rental and service where vehicles are stored or serviced on-site
  • Sexually-oriented businesses
  • Veterinary clinics
  • Wholesale business, storage or warehousing

Physical Features and Building Character

 The following physical features and building character are not allowed:

  • The posting or installation of signs to advertise the business
  • Modifications to the principal building that alter its residential character
  • Construction of accessory structures that alter the residential character of the lot
  • New, separate entrances to the building that provide access only to the area used for the business
  • Outdoor storage, except where it is completely contained within an accessory structure that adheres to the standards of Section 12-2-404 and Accessory Buildings and Structures in Section 12-3-603 of the LDC
  • Outdoor displays

Business Operations

The following business operations are not allowed:

  • Pick-up or delivery of products or machinery by commercial vehicles or heavy trucks other than parcel pick-up and delivery services
  • Storage of hazardous materials in amounts greater than typically stored for home use
  • Storage of motor fuels in amounts greater than typically stored for home use. Storage of more than five gallons of gasoline or diesel fuel on site, or storage of more than 15 gallons of biodiesel on site
  • Odors that are noticeable from outside of the building where the home-based business is conducted
  • Parking of commercial vehicles or trailers
  • More than one employee at the home who does not reside in the home
  • Parking for more than one employee who does not reside in the home
  • Professional services, instruction or counseling to more than four people at one time

Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions

These standards do not override covenants, conditions and restrictions that may prohibit the business use of the home. The City will not research or enforce private covenants.

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