Lehi's Home Business: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles home business a little differently. In Lehi, Utah, 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.

Zoning & Home Occupation Permits

Lehi requires a Home Occupation Permit before running any business from a residence. The activity must stay secondary and incidental to residential use, fit in 25% or less of the home's finished floor area, and can be revoked any time it disrupts the neighborhood.

Key details: Permit required: Home Occupation Permit, Section 20.020. Floor area cap: 25% of finished livable area. Visibility rule: Not observable from the street. Homes per residence: One occupation unless no-impact shown. Correction window: 10 days after violation notice.

A Home Occupation Permit is revoked by the Zoning Administrator for any violation of Chapter 20's requirements or permit conditions, unless the violation is fixed within ten days of written notice (Section 20.080). Repeated violations can still cost the permit even after a prior correction. Denials or added conditions can be appealed to the Hearing Examiner within ten days (Section 20.070).

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Lehi actively enforces its zoning & home occupation permits requirements.

Signage Rules

Lehi bans signs and product displays entirely for home occupations. Section 20.020(L) allows no exterior advertising of any kind, a flat prohibition rather than a size or number limit like commercial zoning signage rules.

Key details: Signs allowed: None: full prohibition. Product displays: Prohibited, Section 20.020(L). Related rule: Not observable from street, § 20.020(D). Garage doors: Must stay closed during business. Penalty: Permit revocation, § 20.080.

Putting up a sign or displaying products violates the Section 20.020(L) permit condition. Under Section 20.080, the Zoning Administrator can revoke the entire Home Occupation Permit for any Chapter 20 violation unless it is corrected within ten days of written notice, and repeat sign violations can cost the permit even after a prior fix.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Lehi actively enforces its signage rules requirements.

Customer Traffic Restrictions

Lehi ties customer visits to parking, not a flat headcount. Section 20.040(A) caps a home occupation at six parking spaces occupied at once by patrons, counting both off-street and street-front spaces, with off-street parking required for every patron.

Key details: Patron parking cap: 6 spaces occupied at once. Basis: Off-street plus frontage on-street parking. Classes/sessions cap: 4 per day. Off-street parking: Required for all patrons. Pre-license step: Fire and safety inspection.

Occupying more than six parking spaces with patron traffic, or hosting patrons without the required off-street parking, violates Section 20.040. Under Section 20.080 the Zoning Administrator can revoke the Home Occupation Permit for the violation unless corrected within ten days of written notice, with repeat violations risking revocation regardless of correction.

Home Daycare

Lehi caps home-based child or adult daycare at 12 people at a time under Section 20.040(G) and requires a Utah Department of Health certificate plus an annual fire life safety inspection to keep the underlying business license valid.

Key details: Attendance cap: 12 persons at one time. State certificate: Utah Dept. of Health, required. Inspection: Annual fire life safety inspection. State rules: Utah Admin. Code R501-1 et seq.. Yard requirement: Fully fenced, self-closing gate latches.

Exceeding the 12-person cap, letting the Utah Department of Health certificate or fire life safety inspection lapse, or failing the backyard fencing requirement violates Section 20.040(G) and (I). The Zoning Administrator can revoke the Home Occupation Permit under Section 20.080 for any such violation unless corrected within ten days of written notice, and repeat violations can still cost the permit.

This is one of the stricter rules in Lehi's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

The Bottom Line

Lehi is tougher than many cities when it comes to home business. Out of the 4 rules covered here, 3 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Lehi, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

This guide is based on Lehi's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.