How Salt Lake City Handles Home Business: A Practical Guide
Salt Lake City maintains 165 local ordinances across all categories, and 4 of those deal specifically with home business. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Salt Lake City falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.
Home Daycare
Salt Lake City allows home daycares as a home occupation in any dwelling except M-1 and M-2 industrial zones, capping group size at 16 children and confining outdoor play to rear or side yards.
Key details: Group size cap: 16 children at any one time. Zoning: Allowed except M-1, M-2 districts. License: City home-occupation business license required. Outdoor play: Rear or side yard only. Residence rule: Must be provider's primary residence.
Operating without a home-occupation business license, exceeding the 16-child group size cap, or locating outdoor play areas outside the rear or side yard violates the code; the zoning administrator can suspend or revoke the license.
Customer Traffic Restrictions
Salt Lake City caps home occupation client visits at two per hour, one client at a time, and only between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m.
Key details: Visit hours: 8:00 A.M. to 10:00 P.M.. Client frequency cap: 2 clients per hour. Clients served at once: 1 at a time. Client parking: 1 space maximum. Enforcement: Zoning administrator; permit revocable.
Exceeding the two-clients-per-hour cap, serving more than one client at once, running visits outside 8 a.m.-10 p.m., or occupying more than one parking space with client vehicles violates the home occupation standards and can trigger loss of the home occupation permit under § 21A.36.030(J).
Signage Rules
Salt Lake City caps home occupation signage at one small, nonilluminated nameplate mounted flat against the house: no lit signs, no freestanding signs, no exceptions.
Key details: Signs allowed: One nameplate only. Max size (single-family districts): 1 square foot. Illumination: Not permitted. Mounting: Flat against building. Governing code: SLC Code § 21A.36.030.
Zoning enforcement can order an oversized, illuminated, or additional sign removed and can revoke the home occupation business license itself; the zoning administrator may terminate the home occupation for standards violations under 21A.36.030.K.
This is one of the stricter rules in Salt Lake City's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.
Zoning & Home Occupation Permits
Salt Lake City allows home occupations in any dwelling citywide, but the business must stay clearly secondary to residential use and follow strict operating limits under § 21A.36.030.
Key details: Governing section: § 21A.36.030. Client visits: Max 2/hour, 1 at a time. Visitation hours: 8:00 AM–10:00 PM. Outside employees: 1 maximum. License term: 1 year, renewable.
Operating without the required Business License Division permit, exceeding the client-visitation cap, running a prohibited use (auto repair, kennel, welding shop, commercial bakery, etc.), or exceeding one outside employee are code violations subject to license denial, revocation, or termination by the zoning administrator.
The Bottom Line
Salt Lake City'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 Salt Lake City is broadly strict or permissive.
This guide is based on Salt Lake City's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.