5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Hamilton County, Indiana.
Verified from official government sources
Home occupations are allowed as an accessory use in residential zones under city ordinances (not county). Carmel requires the business not change the character of the dwelling and give no exterior indication it is used for anything but a home.
Carmel UDO 5.18 HO-01(A)(2)
The Home Occupation shall not change the character of the Dwelling, Lot, or parcel; The Dwelling shall not bear any indication from the exterior that it is being utilized in whole or in part for any purpose other than a Dwelling
A Carmel home occupation may not have any sign beyond what the residential district normally allows. In practice that means no commercial or business signage advertising the home business is permitted.
Carmel UDO 5.18 HO-01(A)(2)(d)
The Home Occupation shall not be permitted signs other than those normally permitted in the district in which the Home Occupation is located.
Indiana's Home Based Vendor law lets you sell certain non-hazardous homemade foods statewide. Every product must be labeled with your name, address, ingredients, and a disclaimer stating the kitchen was not inspected and the food is NOT FOR RESALE.
IC 16-42-5.3-5(a)(6)
The following statement in at least 10 point type: "This product is home produced and processed and the production area has not been inspected by the Indiana Department of Health. NOT FOR RESALE."
Indiana law bars a city from excluding a licensed child care home from a residential area just because it is a business (IC 36-7-4-1108). Larger commercial day nurseries are different: Carmel requires a minimum one-acre lot for a day nursery or day care use.
Carmel UDO 5.49 US-03(A)
A day nursery or day care use shall have a minimum of one (1) acre of lot area.
Carmel caps a home occupation at 15% of the dwelling's gross floor area and one non-family employee, with no outside storage, noise, odor, or nuisance. These city standards, not a county permit, govern working from home in Hamilton County.
Carmel UDO 5.18 HO-01(A)(1),(A)(4)
Home Occupations shall utilize no more than fifteen percent (15%) of the gross floor area of the dwelling. ... The Home Occupation shall employ no more than one (1) individual outside of the immediate family.
1 cities in Hamilton County have their own home business rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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