5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Galveston County, Texas.
Verified from official government sources
Texas counties cannot zone, so unincorporated Galveston County places no zoning limit on a home business. Inside a city the city code governs; Galveston's Land Development Regulations require a home occupation to keep the dwelling's residential character.
Galveston Land Development Regulations Sec. 2.336(A)(1)
The home based occupation must not alter the dwelling to accommodate the home business in any manner that changes the dwelling's residential character and appearance.
The county cannot regulate signs by zoning. In the City of Galveston, a home based occupation is flatly barred from signs: 'No signage or on-site advertising permitted.' Unincorporated areas have no county sign rule.
Galveston Land Development Regulations Sec. 2.336(A)(2)
Signage. No signage or on-site advertising permitted.
Texas cottage food law lets you sell many homemade foods with no permit if gross income stays at $50,000 or less. Health & Safety Code 437.0191 says a cottage food operation is not a food service establishment, so no health-permit is required.
Tex. Health & Safety Code 437.0191
A cottage food production operation is not a food service establishment for purposes of this chapter.
Home childcare is licensed by the State of Texas (HHSC), not by the county, which cannot zone. In the City of Galveston a residential day care may serve no more than six children, employ up to one non-resident, and post no signage.
Galveston Land Development Regulations Sec. 2.315(A)(7),(9)
Occupancy Limit. The use shall provide care for not more than six children on the premises at any one time. ... Signage. No signage is permitted.
Unincorporated Galveston County issues no home-occupation permit because counties cannot zone. In Galveston a home based occupation may have no non-resident employees and no on-site customers; a larger 'home based business' allows up to two employees.
Galveston Land Development Regulations Sec. 2.336(A)(3)-(4)
Non-Resident Employees. Non-resident employees prohibited. Use Limitation. Home based occupation may not receive customers and clients on-site. Silk Stocking and Lost Bayou neighborhoods are exempt from this provision.
1 cities in Galveston County have their own home business rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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