5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Chatham County, Georgia.
Verified from official government sources
Chatham County's zoning ordinance allows a home occupation carried on inside a dwelling, using no more than 25% of the gross livable area, employing only resident family members, and using only equipment customarily found in the home.
Chatham County Zoning Ordinance Sec. 2-28
An occupation carried on within a dwelling, occupying no greater than 25% of the gross livable area of the dwelling, employing only family members residing in the home, using only such equipment as is customarily found in the home.
A home occupation in Chatham County must involve no display of articles or products or signs. On-premise business signs and window displays are effectively prohibited so the property keeps its residential appearance.
Chatham County Zoning Ordinance Sec. 2-28
...involving no display of articles or products or signs, and, except as otherwise provided, having no on-site storage of equipment, or materials used to deliver products or provide services off-site.
Georgia lets residents make non-hazardous baked goods, jams, jellies, and preserves in a home kitchen as a cottage food operation. Products must be sold directly to the end consumer, with no wholesale or distribution allowed.
Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 40-7-19-.02, -.05
"Cottage food products" means non-potentially hazardous baked goods, jams, jellies, preserves, and other non-potentially hazardous foods produced in the home kitchen of a domestic residence... Sale of cottage food products must be to the end consumer. No distribution or wholesale is allowed, including to hotels, restaurants, or institutions.
A Georgia family child care learning home cares for at least three but not more than six unrelated children under 13. Section 2-28 lets Chatham County treat it as a home occupation, but it must be licensed by Bright from the Start (DECAL).
O.C.G.A. Section 20-1A-2
"Family day care home" means a private residence operated by any person who receives therein for pay for supervision and care... at least three but not more than six children under 13 years of age who are not related to such person... provided, however, that the total number of unrelated children cared for in such home, for pay and not for pay, may not exceed six children under 13 years of age ...
Georgia has no statewide home-business preemption, so a home occupation in unincorporated Chatham County must comply with Section 2-28 and be reviewed by Building Safety zoning administration. A county occupation-tax certificate is also required.
Chatham County Zoning Ordinance Sec. 2-28(b)
Boarding of not more than two (2) nontransient guests, provided one additional off-street parking space is provided for each boarder... A beauty parlor... occupying not more than five hundred (500) square feet of floor area or 25 percent of the total living area, whichever is less, and employing not more than two people, both of whom shall reside in the dwelling.
1 cities in Chatham County have their own home business rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
See every category we cover for Chatham County — parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Chatham County Ordinance Hub →