6 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Travis County, Texas.
Verified from official government sources
Unincorporated Travis County has no zoning and therefore no home-business restrictions beyond deed and HOA rules. Austin permits home occupations in all SF zones under Code 25-2-901: max 20 percent of dwelling floor area, resident-operated, no more than 1 non-resident employee, no retail sales on-site, no outdoor storage.
Unincorporated Travis County has no sign ordinance outside highway right-of-way (TxDOT jurisdiction). Austin Code 25-10 limits home occupation signage to one non-illuminated nameplate, maximum 2 sq ft, flat-mounted to building. Temporary contractor/real estate signs follow separate limits. HOAs often prohibit all commercial signage.
Unincorporated Travis County imposes no customer-traffic limits on home businesses. Austin Code 25-2-901 caps home occupation client visits at 3 per day with no simultaneous clients, preserving residential character. Cottage food operators (TX HSC 437) are exempt and may sell directly from home. HOAs may impose stricter limits.
Texas Cottage Food Law (Health and Safety Code Ch. 437) preempts local regulation of home-based food production for non-potentially-hazardous foods. Up to 50,000 dollars annual gross sales allowed. Products must be labeled with producer name, address, ingredients, and the statement that the food is made in a home kitchen not inspected by a health department. No permit or kitchen inspection required.
Registered and licensed child-care homes in unincorporated Travis County operate under Texas HHSC rules (TX Human Resources Code Ch. 42, 26 TAC Ch. 745). County has no zoning, so home daycares are permissible subject to state license, fire marshal inspection, and deed restrictions.
Tex. Hum. Res. Code Sec. 42.002, 42.041
Sec. 42.002. DEFINITIONS. ... "Family home" means a home that provides regular care in the caretaker's own residence for not more than six children under 14 years of age, excluding children who are related to the caretaker, and that provides care after school hours for not more than six additional elementary school children, but the total number of children, including children who are related t...
Travis County has no general zoning authority under Texas Local Government Code, so no home occupation permit is issued at the county level. Home businesses in unincorporated Travis County are limited only by deed restrictions, subdivision covenants, and any applicable ETJ city rules.
1 cities in Travis County have their own home business rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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