4 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 3 cities in Fairfax County, Virginia.
Verified from official government sources
Fairfax County prohibits all exterior signage for home occupations. Zoning Ordinance §4102 and Article 7 (Signs) explicitly bar any sign, placard, or display visible from outside the dwelling that identifies a home-based business. This includes window signs, yard signs, magnetic vehicle signs parked on the property, and illuminated displays. The home must appear indistinguishable from a purely residential dwelling.
Virginia's Home Food Processing (Cottage Food) exemption under VA Code §3.2-5130 allows home production and direct sale of specified non-potentially-hazardous foods (baked goods, jams, jellies, candies, dried herbs) without a food establishment permit, subject to labeling requirements. Fairfax County home-business zoning rules still apply: no retail walk-in sales, no signage, no customer visits above Type 2 limits. Online and farmers' market sales allowed.
Fairfax County Zoning Ordinance Article 4 allows Home-Based Businesses (formerly "Home Occupations") as accessory uses in residential zones. Type 1 (minor) home businesses are allowed by-right without a permit; Type 2 (with clients/employees on-site) requires a Home Occupation Permit. All home businesses must be clearly secondary to residential use, occupy limited floor area, and not change the residential character of the dwelling or neighborhood.
Fairfax County strictly limits client visits to home businesses. Class A Home Occupation Permits prohibit all on-site clients. Class B permits allow limited appointments only, typically capped at 4 clients per day, with no walk-ins permitted. No more than one client vehicle may be on-site at any time, and appointments must not generate traffic or parking demand inconsistent with a residential neighborhood.
3 cities in Fairfax County have their own home business rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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