5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Norfolk City, Virginia.
Verified from official government sources
Norfolk permits a home occupation as an accessory use in any zoning district, but it must stay clearly subordinate to the residence and occupy no more than 25 percent of the dwelling's floor area. Zoning Ordinance section 4.3.3 governs.
Norfolk Zoning Ordinance § 4.3.3
No person who is not a member of the family residing within the dwelling unit shall be employed by or engaged in the home occupation.
Norfolk bars all exterior evidence of a home occupation. The Zoning Ordinance allows no sign, no exterior display, and no outside storage that would signal a business operating from a residential dwelling.
Norfolk Zoning Ordinance § 4.3.3
There shall be no signs, exterior displays, outside storage of materials or equipment, and no exterior indication of the home occupation or other variation from the residential character of the building.
A Norfolk home occupation must not draw customer traffic or deliveries beyond ordinary residential levels. The Zoning Ordinance limits merchandise deliveries to the everyday carriers that serve any home.
Norfolk Zoning Ordinance § 4.3.3
The home occupation shall not involve the receipt or delivery of merchandise, goods, or equipment other than by US Mail, United Parcel Service, Federal Express, Amazon, or similar carriers that typically deliver packages to residences.
Virginia's home food exemption lets Norfolk residents make and sell shelf-stable foods like baked goods, jams, and candy from a home kitchen without a state food-establishment permit or inspection, as long as each product is labeled. Va. Code section 3.2-5130 controls.
Va. Code § 3.2-5130
NOT FOR RESALE PROCESSED AND PREPARED WITHOUT STATE INSPECTION
Virginia licenses family day homes serving five to twelve children through the Department of Education, while a home caring for four or fewer is exempt. State law makes a home serving five or fewer children a by-right residential use.
1 cities in Norfolk City have their own home business rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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