6 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Greenville County, South Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
Greenville County's zoning ordinance permits home occupations as accessory uses in residential districts, provided they are secondary and clearly incidental to residential use. Section 6:2(13) sets the conditions, including a 25% floor-area cap and no more than one non-resident employee.
Greenville County Zoning Ordinance Sec. 6:2(13)(C)
An area equal to not more than 25 percent of the floor area of the principal structure may be utilized for home occupational purposes.
A home occupation in unincorporated Greenville County may display only one non-illuminated nameplate, no larger than 2 square feet, mounted flat against the wall of the principal building. No other signage or window display is permitted.
Greenville County Zoning Ordinance Sec. 6:2(13)(I)
No sign shall be permitted except one non-illuminated nameplate not more than 2 square feet (i.e. 1' x 2') in area mounted flat against the wall of the principal building in which the occupation is conducted.
Greenville County Zoning Ordinance Sec. 6:2(13) limits a home occupation to an activity "clearly incidental" to the dwelling, conducted only inside the principal structure, on no more than 25% of its floor area, with at most one (1) non-resident employee in addition to the resident family. No outdoor storage, no on-site retail sale of off-premises merchandise (except service-related products like beauty supplies), no display visible from the street, no alteration of residential character, and no nuisance. Off-street parking must comply with Table 12.1. These rules together cap how many customers, clients, or deliveries can realistically occur at the home.
South Carolina's Cottage Food Law (SC Code Section 44-1-143) lets residents make and sell non-potentially-hazardous foods from home with no DHEC permit or inspection. Greenville County explicitly allows home-based food production as a home occupation.
SC Code Section 44-1-143
A home-based food production operation is not a retail food establishment and is not subject to regulation by the department pursuant to Regulation 61.25.
A day care home serving five or fewer persons is a permitted home occupation in Greenville County's residential zones. Only those residing in the home may be involved in day-to-day operation, and it must meet the Section 6:2(13) conditions.
Greenville County Zoning Ordinance, Day Care Home definition
Day Care Home - A residential home that serves as a personal care facility for 5 or less persons. Only those residing in the home may be involved in the day-to-day operation of the adult / childcare home.
Listed home occupations are permitted by right when they meet the Section 6:2(13) conditions. The Board of Zoning Appeals, under Article 3, may authorize other home occupations that meet the same standards.
Greenville County Zoning Ordinance Sec. 6:2(13)(A)
Not more than one person who is not a member of the applicant's immediate family and who is not a resident in the applicant's home may be employed.
1 cities in Greenville County have their own home business rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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