Bloomfield, NJ Home Business: Customer Traffic Restrictions (2026)

Section 315-39B(6) of the Bloomfield Township Code governs home occupations, which § 315-6 defines as an occupation or activity carried out for gain by a resident and conducted as a customary, incidental and accessory use in the resident's dwelling unit. Home occupations are listed as conditional uses in zones including R-1A, R-1B, R-2A, R-2B and R-G (§ 315-38). The Planning Board cannot approve a conditional use unless it finds the use meets all the requirements of the section (§ 315-39A), and under § 315-25 the Board must grant or deny a conditional use application within 95 days of a complete submission, unless the applicant consents to more time.

Several conditions control how many people come and go. The practitioner must reside in the home and cannot engage the services of more than one office employee, and use of the office by other persons is not permitted. No clients or customers can remain on the premises overnight. No retail sales can be conducted on the site. Adequate off-street parking spaces must be provided under the article's parking requirements for both the residential use and the home occupation, so that no parking related to the home occupation occurs on the street.

Other conditions keep the business small. The home occupation must occupy less than 50% of the total area of the floor where it is located, excluding a private garage, or 900 square feet, whichever is smaller. Home professional offices in the POR Zone can use the entire ground floor. The residential character of the neighborhood and the premises cannot be subordinated to the business. Any sign identifying the home occupation cannot be larger than three square feet and must meet the chapter's sign provisions. No equipment or process can create noise, glare, fumes, odors, electrical interference, medical waste or other nuisance factors detectable off the lot. Home professional offices in the PO/R Zone are subject to § 315-39B(6) as well (§ 315-38H).