Home Business in St. Louis County, MN (2026)
3 rules for unincorporated St. Louis County, Minnesota.
Verified from official government sources
Zoning & Home Occupation Permits
St. Louis County zones a home business as a commercial use tied to the owner's residence, capped at five employees who don't live there and required to stay compatible with the rural residential character around it. Section 6.20.B allows it only in the FAM, MU, SMU, COM, LSO and LCO districts, with a performance standard permit that bars outside storage and requires the operator to follow county and state waste rules.
Home Business Zoning Rules, St. Louis County
Significant RestrictionsSt. Louis County Zoning Ordinance 62, Section 6.20.A, B
Section 6.20 Home Business Performance Standards "C" A. A commercial business use conducted on the same property on which the owner's home is situated which may employ no more than five persons who are not residents of the owner's home, which is a type or character consistent with rural residential lifestyle, and which is established and operated under such conditions that the use may not be a ...
Signage Rules
A home business in unincorporated St. Louis County gets no separate sign allowance: Section 6.20.B.6 requires all signs to conform to outdoor sign standards found in Article VI, Section 6.12, so a home business sign is capped at the same size, setback and illumination limits, including the dark-sky lighting standard, that apply to any other outdoor sign in that zone district.
Home Business Sign Limits, St. Louis County
Some RestrictionsSt. Louis County Zoning Ordinance 62, Section 6.20.B.6
B. Permit Required: ... Home businesses may be allowed in certain zone districts (FAM, MU, SMU, COM, LSO, and LCO) with a performance standard permit with the following standards: 6. ... All signs shall conform to outdoor sign standards found in Article VI, Section 6.12.
Customer Traffic Restrictions
A home business permit in St. Louis County isn't automatic once traffic picks up: Section 6.20.B.3 requires the operator to get the appropriate road authority's approval to address public safety and any increased traffic the business generates, and the Department separately notifies adjoining neighbors so complaints about client visits can trigger tighter conditions.
Home Business Traffic Approval, St. Louis County
Some RestrictionsSt. Louis County Zoning Ordinance 62, Section 6.20.B.3
B. Permit Required: ... Home businesses may be allowed in certain zone districts (FAM, MU, SMU, COM, LSO, and LCO) with a performance standard permit with the following standards: 3. ... Approval from the appropriate road authority shall be obtained to address public safety and any increased traffic from proposed home business. 4. Notice shall be sent to adjoining property owners by the Departm...
All St. Louis County ordinances
See every category we cover for St. Louis County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
St. Louis County Ordinance Hub →