5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Mobile County, Alabama.
Verified from official government sources
Mobile County cannot zone land use under Alabama's Dillon's Rule. In the unincorporated county a home business faces no county location, use, or square-footage limit. Only recorded HOA or subdivision deed restrictions decide what you may run from your house.
Mobile County does not regulate home-business signs in unincorporated areas. No county sign permit, size cap, or setback applies to a sign at your house. HOA deed restrictions and Alabama DOT rules for signs near state highways are the only limits.
Mobile County places no limit on customers or client visits to a home business in unincorporated areas. There is no county cap on daily visitors, parking, or deliveries. Deed restrictions and a county driveway-access permit are the only real constraints.
Alabama's Cottage Food Law lets you sell approved home-produced foods from a Mobile County home with no permit or health inspection. A 2021 amendment removed the sales cap, so there is no dollar limit. You must pass an approved food-safety course.
Ala. Code § 22-20-5.1
The operator of a cottage food production operation shall maintain certification of having attended and passed a food safety course approved by the department.
Running a child-care home for pay in Mobile County requires a license or approval from the Alabama Department of Human Resources under Code Section 38-7-3. The county neither licenses nor zones home daycares in unincorporated areas; the state controls the use.
Ala. Code § 38-7-3
No person, group of persons, or corporation may operate or conduct any facility for child care, as defined in this chapter, without being licensed or approved as provided in this chapter.
1 cities in Mobile County have their own home business rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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