5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Oakland County, Michigan.
Verified from official government sources
Oakland County does not directly regulate zoning for cities, villages, or townships. Each of the 62 Oakland County municipalities (Royal Oak, Troy, Farmington Hills, Pontiac, Bloomfield Twp, etc.) adopts its own zoning ordinance under the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act (MCL 125.3101 et seq.). Home businesses are typically permitted as 'home occupations' accessory to a primary residential use, subject to caps on employees, floor area, traffic, and external impacts.
Most Oakland County municipalities sharply restrict or completely prohibit exterior signage for home occupations. Bloomfield Township flatly bans 'signage, advertising device or other items implying the existence of a home business.' Other Oakland communities allow a single small nameplate not exceeding 1-2 square feet, non-illuminated, mounted flush to the dwelling.
Oakland County home bakers, jam makers, and other cottage food operators are governed by Michigan's Cottage Food Law (MCL 289.4102), administered by MDARD. Sales are capped at $50,000/year (or $75,000/year for products priced ≥$250/unit). No license is required, but products must be non-potentially hazardous, properly labeled, and sold directly to consumers in Michigan.
MCL 289.4102
The gross sales of cottage food products by a cottage food operation must not exceed $50,000.00 annually. ... If a cottage food operation sells cottage food products at a price of $250.00 or more per unit, the gross sales of the cottage food products by the cottage food operation must not exceed $75,000.00 annually.
Michigan law (MCL 125.3206) requires every Oakland County township and county zoning ordinance to treat a state-licensed family child care home (1-6 children) as a permitted residential use in all residential zones — no special use permit allowed. A group child care home (7-12 children) may be subject to a special-use review but cannot be banned outright. Licensing is handled by MiLEAP/LARA.
MCL 125.3206(3)
For a county or township, a family child care home is a residential use of property for the purposes of zoning and a permitted use in all residential zones and is not subject to a special use or conditional use permit or procedure different from those required for other dwellings of similar density in the same zone.
Each Oakland County municipality sets its own home occupation permit requirements. Some (Bloomfield Township) allow home occupations as-of-right if rigorous standards are met; others require a registration, zoning review, or special land use permit. Common conditions: no nonresident employees, no exterior alteration, no outside storage, limited customer traffic, no signage.
1 cities in Oakland County have their own home business rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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