How to Obtain a Home Occupation Permit

Operating a business from your home can be a rewarding and exciting proposition as long as you comply with the terms set out by your local licensing authorities. Most jurisdictions will require that you apply for and obtain both a business license and home occupation permit (HOP) prior to commencing a home business. Certain types of businesses are usually prohibited from operating from your home, particularly businesses that could pose a risk to health or which involve dangerous activities. Local laws usually require that you post your business license and home occupation permit in a “conspicuous place” such as on a wall near your computer desk.

Things You'll Need

• Home Occupation Permit application/fees, if any
• Business license/fee

Instructions

How to Obtain a Home Occupation Permit

1. Obtain and complete the forms for applying for a business license and home occupation permit from the business licensing and local planning department where you intend to operate your home business. Fees will usually be charged for filing your application for a business license and in some locales a fee is also charged for applying for a home occupation permit. A home occupation permit application will generally ask for information such as your name, address, business name, telephone number, type of business and activities that you will be operating, total square footage of your home, location of business activities within the home and the percentage of square footage that will be used for business. Common rules include prohibitions against posting signs outside your home, customers may not visit your home, no increase of parking and no commercial vehicles may make deliveries to your home.

2. Apply for your business license and home occupation permit. You can usually do this by mail or in person. Keep a copy of your applications for your records. You can usually pay any fees by check, cash or money order. Home occupation permit applications are usually reviewed by the local city or county planning department since an HOP application is, in essence, a request for a zoning variance.

3. If the applications are approved, you can commence business. If not, review and revise your applications as may be required by the planning department. A denial can often be reversed when the applications are revised to comply with the home occupation zoning restrictions. You may be entitled to appeal a decision of the planning department when an application has been denied. You may wish to appear at a city council or planning department meeting to request information on how you can bring your applications into compliance with local regulations.

Tips & Warnings

• Failure to comply with the applicable laws relative to home occupation permits can result in revocation of your permit.