How Roswell Handles Home Business: A Practical Guide

Roswell maintains 77 local ordinances across all categories, and 2 of those deal specifically with home business. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Roswell falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Home Occupation Permits

Roswell allows home occupations as a secondary use of a dwelling. A maximum of two home occupations per dwelling is permitted; client visits are capped at 5 per week (with limited educational/family-day-care exceptions), no signage is allowed, and only one non-occupant employee may work on the premises.

Key details: Max Occupations per Home: 2. Client Visits Cap: 5 per week. Signage: None allowed. Non-Resident Employees: 1. Zoning Contact: 770-817-6720.

Operating without a home occupation business license or exceeding the customer/employee/signage limits is a UDC violation citable in Municipal Court with fines up to $1,000 per day. Repeat violations can lead to revocation of the business license and forced closure.

Zoning Restrictions

Roswell's UDC explicitly prohibits certain uses as home occupations regardless of permits: auto sales/repair, restaurants, animal hospitals/kennels, funeral homes, retail or wholesale shops, machine shops, personal service establishments, special event facilities, and lodging services.

Key details: Code: Roswell UDC Art. 9. Auto Repair/Sales: Prohibited. Restaurants: Prohibited. Animal Boarding: Prohibited. Retail Shops: Prohibited.

Operating a prohibited home occupation is a UDC violation that cannot be cured with a permit. Citation, business license revocation, and Municipal Court fines up to $1,000 per day apply.

Compared to other cities, Roswell takes a harder line on zoning restrictions. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

The Bottom Line

Roswell'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 Roswell is broadly strict or permissive.

All of the above reflects Roswell's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.