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DeKalb County, GA Business Licensing & Operations: Auto Repair on Residential Property (2026)

Heavy Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Governs
Unincorporated DeKalb County only
Prohibited use
Automobile repair or car wash
Applies to
Both Type I and Type II
No permit path
Use is never allowed at home

Summary

Unincorporated DeKalb County's home-occupation rules flatly exclude automobile repair shops and car washes from being run out of a house, no matter how small the operation.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of DeKalb County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

Home occupation shall not include the use of a dwelling unit for the purpose of operating any automobile repair establishment, or car wash.8.Occupations that are mobile or dispatch-only may be allowed, provided that any business vehicle used for the home occupation complies with section 6.1.3, and is limited to one (1) business vehicle per occupation.D.Private educational services shall comply with home occupation standards and no more than three (3) students shall be served at a time. Family members residing in the home are not counted towards the three (3) students allowed. (Ord. No. 15-06, 8-25-2015)

View official code

Full Breakdown

DeKalb County Code § 27-4.2.31(C)(7) lists automobile repair establishments and car washes among the activities a home occupation may never include, regardless of size or customer contact. The prohibition applies to Type I and Type II home occupations alike in the unincorporated county. Decatur, Dunwoody, Brookhaven, Tucker, Stonecrest, and the county's other cities set their own separate codes. Anyone wanting to fix cars commercially at a residence in unincorporated DeKalb must instead find a properly zoned commercial or industrial property, since no home-occupation permit can authorize the use.

Violations & Fines

Running an automobile repair or car-wash business from a residence in unincorporated DeKalb County is a zoning violation with no permit path; the county can cite the property and order the use stopped.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I repair cars as a business at my DeKalb County home?
No. County zoning code § 27-4.2.31(C)(7) excludes automobile repair establishments and car washes from home occupations entirely, in Type I and Type II alike.
Does a special land use permit allow home auto repair in DeKalb County?
No: the exclusion applies regardless of permit type; automobile repair and car washes are barred from the home-occupation category outright.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in DeKalb County

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All DeKalb County rules

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