How to Research Home Business Zoning Laws

Many people start a home business without being aware of local zoning laws that may affect them. Zoning laws can restrict many aspects of your business, from how much traffic you can have to what kind of signs and advertising you can display. They can even govern whether you are permitted to run a business from your home at all. Follow these steps to find out what your city's zoning laws are.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Browse your town's website. Many municipalities publish zoning ordinances online and include information about home based businesses on their websites.
2. Check zoning maps to find out how your property is zoned. Property is usually zoned agricultural, industrial, commercial or residential. If you are zoned other than residential, there probably will be few restrictions on business use. If your property is zoned residential, you will have to find out whether your business is allowed and what sort of restrictions apply.
3. Call or visit your local courthouse or municipal hall to get a copy of local ordinances. Ask questions about what the laws are and how they may affect you.
4. Evaluate whether you can adjust your business plans to be in compliance with local laws.
   Most restrictions are put in place to limit activities that could be a nuisance to neighbors, like traffic, signs and parking. Arrange to sell your products by mail rather than conducting retail sales from your home. Hire employees who will work from their homes rather than yours. These are some solutions that will allow you to run your business and still be compliant with local laws.
5. Find out how whether you can get a variance if you think you will need one. A variance is an exception to the zoning laws that will allow you to run your business.
6. Get the support of your neighbors. Assure them that your business will have no impact on them, and be sure you keep your word and don't give them anything to complain about. If you need to get a variance, neighborhood support is essential. Besides that, zoning officials usually do not go out of their way to look for violations, but if neighbors complain they could impose fines or close down your business.