5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Bell County, Texas.
Verified from official government sources
Texas counties cannot zone, so unincorporated Bell County places no zoning limits on a home business. Inside a city, a home occupation is allowed as an accessory use only if it stays clearly incidental to the home and does not change its residential character.
Unincorporated Bell County cannot zone and sets no home-business sign rule. Inside a city, home-occupation signs are tightly limited or banned outright. Temple prohibits any sign advertising a home occupation; Killeen similarly restricts on-premise home-business signage.
Texas cottage food law lets you sell many homemade foods without a permit or inspection. Under the 2025 Texas Food Freedom Act (SB 541), the annual gross-sales cap rose to $150,000, indexed to inflation. Neither Bell County nor a city may ban a compliant cottage food operation.
Home childcare is licensed by the state, not the county. Unincorporated Bell County cannot zone it, while cities regulate it as a home occupation. Temple requires at least 150 square feet of gross floor area per child for a family or group day care home.
Unincorporated Bell County issues no home-occupation permit because it cannot zone. Cities regulate home occupations by standards rather than a stand-alone permit: Temple requires the business to occupy the main structure only and bans outside employees and nuisance impacts.
1 cities in Bell County have their own home business rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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