Englewood's Home Business: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles home business a little differently. In Englewood, New Jersey, there are 4 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Home Daycare

Englewood's Board of Health regulates small family child care homes under Chapter 477, requiring staff health screenings, incident reporting, and nutrition standards beyond state licensing.

Key details: Code chapter: Chapter 477 Child Care. Adopted: November 10, 2003. Local threshold: Five or fewer children. TB screening: Annually required. Incident reporting: Within five days.

Noncompliance can result in Board of Health enforcement, suspension of operations, summonses, and statutory penalties for child care violations.

Compared to other cities, Englewood takes a harder line on home daycare. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Signage Rules

Englewood regulates all signs visible from public rights-of-way under Article XV, prohibiting flashing or moving illumination and limiting billboards to the Light Industrial district.

Key details: Governing article: Article XV Signs. Ordinance number: Ord. 17-05. Billboards: Light Industrial only. Flashing signs: Prohibited citywide. Permit office: Building Department.

Unauthorized signs may be ordered removed at the owner's expense, with municipal court summonses, daily continuing-violation fines, and denial of certificates of occupancy until compliance.

Customer Traffic Restrictions

Englewood limits home occupations to activity within the principal building, prohibits outdoor storage, and restricts staffing to preserve residential character and minimize traffic impacts.

Key details: On-site staff cap: Three persons maximum. Outdoor storage: Prohibited. Activity location: Inside principal building. Vehicle storage: One vehicle allowed. Code reference: Article XI Districts.

Generating non-residential traffic, parking, or storage can trigger zoning enforcement actions, summonses, and revocation of any prior approvals, plus daily fines for continuing violations.

Zoning Restrictions

Englewood permits home occupations as accessory uses in residential zones, subject to floor area limits, employee caps, and operational requirements that preserve neighborhood residential character.

Key details: Max floor area: 1,000 sq ft or 25%. Max persons: Three including operator. Resident requirement: Principal residence required. Code chapter: Chapter 250 Land Use. Exterior storage: Not permitted.

Operating without compliance with district regulations may result in zoning violations, stop-work orders, summonses to municipal court, and daily fines until corrected.

The Bottom Line

Englewood's home business rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Englewood is broadly strict or permissive.

These rules come from Englewood's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.