6 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Marion County, Indiana.
Verified from official government sources
Marion County allows home occupations in residential zones with conditions. Business registration required. Use must be secondary to residential character.
Indianapolis home occupations prohibit all exterior signage under Consolidated Zoning Ordinance §744-500. No visible evidence of commercial activity permitted in residential zones.
Indianapolis home occupations are limited to 1 client at a time and no walk-in retail under Zoning Ord. §744-500. Traffic must not exceed normal residential patterns.
Indiana's Home Based Vendor law (IC 16-42-5.3) allows home production and sale of non-potentially hazardous foods in Marion County. No local permit required. Products must be properly labeled and sold direct-to-consumer.
Indianapolis permits licensed home daycare as a home occupation under the Consolidated Zoning Ordinance. Class I (up to 5 children) and Class II (6-12 children) daycares must meet Indiana FSSA licensing rules and local zoning.
Indianapolis-Marion County Consolidated Zoning Ordinance Chapter 743 (Uses and Use-Specific Standards) lists Home Occupation as an accessory use allowed by right in residential districts, subject to the use-specific standards in Sec. 743-306.K. A home occupation that meets those standards needs no separate zoning permit, but a Marion County building permit is required for any structural alteration, and a state Registered Retail Merchant Certificate is required for retail sales.
1 cities in Marion County have their own home business rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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Marion County Ordinance Hub →