Have a home-based business?

Have a home-based business?
Posted on 04/13/2022

If you’re running a business out of your home, you must have a Home Occupation License. These help ensure that residential homes are primarily used as a dwelling.

If you’d like to have a business based out of your home, you’ll need to apply for a license and abide by City Codes, including the following:

  • Your business can generate no more than six round-trip vehicle visits per day, and they must be between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m.
  • Business visitors may not park on the street, except for occasional business gatherings (limited to 12 per year).
  • You may have up to one other person, in addition to your family members, assist with your business.
  • You can use up to 25% of the total floor area of your home (including the garage and basement) for your home occupation.
  • If you are renting your home, we require you to have written consent from your landlord.
  • Vehicles that are designated as commercial by city code are not permitted to be kept at the home.
  • You may not change the exterior of your home or have a separate business entrance. You can have one sign near the entrance that cannot be illuminated or larger than 1 square foot. The sign must be compatible with your home’s color.
  • Your home business should not create noise, dust, heat, smoke, odor, vibration, electrical interference, light or radio/television transmission interference that exceeds levels normally associated with residential areas.
  • You may not produce, dump or store combustible, toxic or other hazardous substances on site.

If you’re employed by a company and work remotely from your home, you don’t need a license. You also don’t need a home occupation license to do contract delivery driving for a company like Uber, Lyft or Door Dash.

Home daycares go through a separate licensing process — Click on the Home Daycare License section on the Specialty Licenses page to learn more.

If you have questions or would like to apply for a license, contact Community Development staff at 913.477.7725 or [email protected].


Published April 13, 2022