5 rules for unincorporated Lorain County, Ohio.
Verified from official government sources
Home occupations are a permitted accessory use in the City of Lorain's residential districts, provided the activity is clearly incidental to the home and meets the standards in Zoning Code Section 11.06(E). Townships zone home businesses under ORC 519.
City of Lorain Zoning Code, Definitions (Home Occupation)
HOME OCCUPATION: A vocational activity conducted as an accessory use within a dwelling unit by a member or members of the resident family and which is clearly accessory and incidental to the principal residential use of the dwelling.
The City of Lorain allows one non-illuminated home-occupation sign no larger than two square feet, attached to the wall of the dwelling. No other change to the exterior of the home is permitted.
City of Lorain Zoning Code Section 11.06(E)(2)
There shall be no change to the exterior of the dwelling or premises with the exception of one (1) non-illuminated exterior sign, not more than two (2) square feet in area, attached to the wall of the dwelling.
Ohio's Cottage Food Law lets you make non-hazardous foods like baked goods, jams, and candy in your home kitchen with no license, registration, fee, or inspection. Products must be properly labeled and made in your primary residence.
ORC 3715.01
"Cottage food production operation" means a person who, in the person's home, produces food items that are not potentially hazardous foods, including bakery products, jams, jellies, candy, fruit butter, and similar products specified in rules adopted pursuant to section 3715.025 of the Revised Code.
Ohio law licenses in-home child care by size. A Type B family child care home cares for one to seven children at a time (no more than three under age two) in the provider's residence and must be licensed/certified by the state.
ORC 5104.01
"Type B family child care home" and "type B home" mean a permanent residence of the provider in which care is provided for one to seven children at one time and in which no more than three children are under two years of age at one time.
In the City of Lorain a home occupation must stay within the dwelling, use no more than 25% of floor area, employ only resident family members, and generate no excess traffic. In business/mixed districts it is a conditional use requiring approval.
City of Lorain Zoning Code Section 11.06(E)(1),(3)
The home occupation shall be carried on entirely within the principal dwelling unit and not occupy more [than] 25 percent of the total floor area of the dwelling. No business shall be conducted in an accessory building. No persons other than members of the family residing in the dwelling unit shall be engaged in the home occupation.
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