3 rules for unincorporated Greenville County, South Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
Greenville County, South Carolina regulates home-based businesses through the Greenville County Zoning Ordinance, administered by the Zoning Administration department (301 University Ridge, Suite S-3200, Greenville, SC 29601; (864) 467-7425; zoning@greenvillecounty.org). In single-family residential districts, the County's published Answer Book explicitly states "businesses, other than the home occupations specifically listed, are prohibited" — meaning a home occupation is allowed only if it falls within a discrete list of permitted uses in the zoning ordinance, and any other type of business is barred. Property owners pursuing a home occupation must submit the County's Home Occupation Application Guidelines through Building Safety / Zoning Administration before operating. The Zoning Ordinance applies only in unincorporated Greenville County; properties inside the cities of Greenville, Greer, Mauldin, Simpsonville, Travelers Rest, and Fountain Inn are subject to each city's own zoning code.
Greenville County allows only one (1) non-illuminated nameplate sign — not more than 2 square feet (i.e., 1' x 2') — for a home occupation, and it must be mounted flat against the wall of the principal building. No other signs, banners, freestanding signs, or illuminated signs are permitted for home-based businesses in residential districts. The rule is set out at Section 6:2(13)(I) of the Greenville County Zoning Ordinance (Use Conditions for Home Occupations), enforced by Greenville County Code Enforcement.
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.
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