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Cheektowaga, NY Business Licensing & Operations: Auto Repair on Residential Property (2026)

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

Key Facts

Governing section
Cheektowaga Code § 260-28E(5)(a)
Rule
Auto repair not permitted as home business
Also excluded
Small engine repair, mortuary, salon, deer processing
Enforcement
Police Dept + Code Enforcement (§260-68B)
First offense fine
$50-$350 or up to 15 days

Summary

Cheektowaga zoning flatly excludes auto repair from the list of businesses allowed as a home-based business, alongside small engine repair, mortuaries, beauty salons/barbershops, and deer processing.

(5) Certain businesses, including but not limited to the following, are not permitted as a home-based business: (a) Auto repair. (b) Small engine repair. (c) Mortuary/funeral home. (d) Beauty salon/barbershop. (e) Deer processing.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4996449; v35 updated 2026-05-26; through 05-26-2026).

Full Breakdown

" The same list bars small engine repair, mortuary/funeral home, beauty salon/barbershop, and deer processing (§260-28E(5)(b)-(e)). hours; auto repair cannot qualify for that permit at all, regardless of size or hours. Enforcement of this specific exclusion is not left solely to Code Enforcement: § 260-68B specifically assigns enforcement of "§ 260-28E(5)(a)," the auto-repair exclusion, to the Cheektowaga Police Department in addition to the Building Inspections Department, the same dual-enforcement treatment given to the unlicensed-vehicle-storage rule in § 260-28J(2). That double assignment signals the Town treats unauthorized residential auto repair as an active enforcement priority rather than a routine paperwork violation.

Violations & Fines

Running an auto repair operation out of a residence violates § 260-28E(5)(a) and Chapter 260's general penalty provision, § 260-72A: a first offense carries a fine of $50-$350 or up to 15 days in jail, or both; a second offense within five years runs $350-$700; and a third or later offense within five years runs $700-$1,000, with each week of continued operation a separate violation. Both Code Enforcement and the Police Department, per § 260-68B, may act on a complaint.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I run an auto repair business out of my Cheektowaga home?
No. Section 260-28E(5)(a) specifically lists auto repair among businesses not permitted as a home-based business, regardless of size, hours, or a Board of Appeals permit application.
Why is auto repair treated differently from other home-based businesses?
The Town Board wrote it into the flat exclusion list in § 260-28E(5) alongside small engine repair and other uses, and separately assigned its enforcement to the Police Department under § 260-68B, unlike most other zoning violations that go through Code Enforcement alone.
What happens if I get caught doing auto repair at home?
You face Chapter 260's standard penalty scale under § 260-72A: $50 to $350 for a first offense, rising to $350-$700 and then $700-$1,000 for repeat offenses within five years, with jail time up to 15 days possible and each week of continued operation counted separately.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Cheektowaga

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All Cheektowaga rules

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