6 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 4 cities in Dane County, Wisconsin.
Verified from official government sources
Home occupations in unincorporated Dane County are regulated through Chapter 10 (Zoning Ordinance). Agricultural districts are generally permissive; residential-transitional districts have stricter standards.
Dane County Code of Ordinances, ch. 10.004(72)(a)-(h)
(72) Home occupation. A home occupation is any activity carried on by a member of the family residing on the premises, which meets all of the following conditions: (a) The occupation is conducted within a dwelling and not in an accessory building; (b) Only members of the family residing on the premises may be employed on the premises, plus a maximum of one other unrelated person; (c) No stock-i...
Signage for home businesses in unincorporated Dane County is regulated through Chapter 10 zoning. Residential districts typically allow small, non-illuminated signs only.
Dane County Code of Ordinances, ch. 10.004(72)(i)-(j)
(72) Home occupation. A home occupation is any activity carried on by a member of the family residing on the premises, which meets all of the following conditions: ... (i) There is no evidence, other than the sign referred to in subsection (j) below, that will indicate from the exterior that the building is being utilized in part for any purpose other than that of a dwelling; and (j) One (1) si...
Home occupation customer traffic standards in unincorporated Dane County vary by zoning district. Rural and agricultural zones are more permissive; residential-transitional zones restrict visible business activity.
Dane County Code of Ordinances, ch. 10.102(8) (Off-street parking requirements based on building use, item 35)
35. Home occupations: 1 space for an employee, if any, plus adequate space to accommodate all customers on the site at peak periods. ... 36. Incidental room rental: 1 space per rented room.
Wisconsin's 'Pickle Bill' (Wis. Stat. §97.29(2)(b)) and the 2017 Court-ordered expansion allow home baking and canning sales without a license up to $5,000/year (baked goods) with no cap on pickled items. Madison, Fitchburg, and Dane County farmers markets all host cottage food vendors.
Wisconsin DCF licenses family childcare under Wis. Stat. Ch. 48 and DCF 250/251. Madison (MGO §28.151) treats licensed family daycare up to 8 children as a permitted home occupation. Group daycare (9-15) requires a conditional use permit. Dane County follows the same tiers in unincorporated zoning.
Home occupations in unincorporated Dane County are regulated under Chapter 10 (Zoning Ordinance). Most rural-residential and farmland-preservation districts list home occupations as a conditional use, requiring a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) from the Zoning and Land Regulation Committee. Agricultural-use businesses on farms generally rely on the Farmland Preservation framework instead.
4 cities in Dane County have their own home business rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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