Home Business in Roanoke County, VA (2026)
4 rules for unincorporated Roanoke County, Virginia.
Verified from official government sources
Zoning & Home Occupation Permits
In Roanoke County, Virginia (outside the independent cities of Roanoke and Salem), a home business is zoned as either a Type I or Type II home occupation under Code § 30-82-3, each with its own floor-area cap, and every home occupation needs a county business license from the Commissioner of the Revenue.
Home Occupation Zoning Standards in Roanoke County
Some RestrictionsRoanoke County Code § 30-82-3(A),(B)12,(C)1,(D)1-2
(A)Intent. These provisions are adopted in recognition that certain small-scaled commercial activities may be appropriate accessory uses within residential dwellings. The character and scale of such commercial activities must be subordinate and incidental to the principal use of the premises for dwelling purposes, and must be consistent with the predominant residential character of the property...
Signage Rules
In Roanoke County, Virginia (outside the independent cities of Roanoke and Salem), a Type I home occupation can't advertise with any sign at all. Code § 30-82-3(C)4 bans signage outright, while a Type II home occupation may post one non-illuminated sign up to 2 square feet under § 30-82-3(D)4.
Home Business Sign Limits in Roanoke County
Significant RestrictionsRoanoke County Code § 30-82-3(C)4,(D)4
(C)Additional standards for all Type I home occupations: ... 4.No sign may be placed on the property advertising the home occupation. ... (D)Additional standards for all Type II home occupations: ... 4.One (1) non-illuminated sign, a maximum of two (2) square feet in area, shall be permitted per dwelling, regardless of the number of home occupations within the dwelling. Any sign must conform wi...
Customer Traffic Restrictions
In Roanoke County, Virginia (outside the independent cities of Roanoke and Salem), a home-based business can't turn the street into client parking. Code § 30-82-3(B)4 holds a home occupation's traffic to what's typical for the neighborhood's other dwellings and bars adding parking spaces just to serve customers.
Home Occupation Traffic & Parking Limits, Roanoke Co.
Some RestrictionsRoanoke County Code § 30-82-3(B)4,8
4.The type and volume of traffic generated by a home occupation shall be consistent with the traffic generation characteristics of other dwellings in the area. In addition, the lot or property on which the home occupation is conducted shall not have any parking spaces added to it during the time the home occupation is being conducted, nor shall any parking space be used that was not customarily...
Home Daycare
Running a licensed family day care home in Roanoke County (outside the independent cities of Roanoke and Salem) is a permitted residential use, but the zoning ordinance requires proof of state licensure first. Before the county issues a business license or certificate of zoning compliance, the operator must present the Virginia Department of Social Services license.
Family Day Care Home Rules in Roanoke County
Some RestrictionsRoanoke County Code § 30-83-6(A)
(A)General standards:1.Family day care homes, where applicable, shall comply with the Standards for Licensed Family Day Homes established by the Virginia Department of Social Services, as may be amended.2.When a license is required, a copy of the license to operate a family day care home, approved by the Virginia Department of Social Services, shall be presented to the administrator prior to th...
All Roanoke County ordinances
See every category we cover for Roanoke County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Roanoke County Ordinance Hub →