5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Washtenaw County, Michigan.
Verified from official government sources
Washtenaw County does not zone residential land. Cities and townships do, under the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act. In Ann Arbor, a home occupation must be conducted within the dwelling, carried on by a resident family member, and stay incidental and subordinate to the home's residential use.
Ann Arbor UDC 5.16.6H.1
This section applies to any occupation, profession, or business activity customarily conducted entirely within a dwelling unit and carried on by a member of the family residing in the dwelling unit, and which occupation or profession is clearly incidental and subordinate to the use of the dwelling unit for dwelling purposes and does not change the character of the dwelling unit.
Ann Arbor's home-occupation standards authorize no business signage; the use must stay incidental and secondary to residential use with no external evidence perceptible beyond the property line. Any sign must fit the limited allowances for Residential Zoning Districts in the city's sign code.
Ann Arbor UDC 5.16.6H
A home occupation shall be incidental and secondary to the residential use of the dwelling unit... No generation of dust, odors, vibration, or electrical interference or fluctuation shall be perceptible beyond the property line.
Michigan's Cottage Food Law lets you make and sell certain non-hazardous foods from your home kitchen without a license or inspection. Products must be sold directly to the consumer, be properly labeled, and total gross sales must not exceed $50,000 annually (through October 1, 2026).
MCL 289.4102(3)-(5)
A cottage food product must be sold directly from the cottage food operation to the consumer... The gross sales of cottage food products by a cottage food operation must not exceed $50,000.00 annually until October 1, 2026... [label:] Made in a home kitchen that has not been inspected by the Michigan department of agriculture and rural development.
Michigan licenses home child care through LARA (now MiLEAP). A Family Day Care Home cares for up to 6 children; a Group Day Care Home for up to 12. Ann Arbor's zoning allows both in all residential districts, but a group home also needs a city zoning permit and a
Ann Arbor UDC 5.16.6F-G
Family Day Care Home: All Residential Zoning Districts — Must be licensed by the State of Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. Group Day Care Home: All Residential Zoning Districts — Shall be licensed by the State of Michigan... A zoning permit shall be obtained from the PDSU. Shall be located on a lot with at least 5,000 square feet of lot area.
Ann Arbor allows home occupations without a special permit if you meet the performance standards: use no more than 25% of the dwelling's floor area, no more than one nonresident employee, and no more than 24 client visits per day (six at a time), between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
Ann Arbor UDC 5.16.6H.2
A maximum of 25% of the floor area of the principal dwelling unit shall be utilized for the home occupation... A maximum of one nonresident employee shall be permitted. A maximum of 24 client visits per day, and a maximum of six clients at a time, are permitted... Hours for visits shall be between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.
1 cities in Washtenaw County have their own home business rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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