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Forsyth County, GA Home Business: Customer Traffic Restrictions (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Customer cap
2 customers on premises at any time
Employees allowed
0 professional office / 3 home occupation
Vehicles allowed
1 professional office / 2 home occupation
Group instruction exception
Up to 10 attendees, Ag-zoned, PC approval
License term
12 months, expires every April 1
Enforcing agency
Planning & Community Development director
Appeal path
Zoning Board of Appeals, UDC Chapter 8

Summary

Forsyth County limits every home-based business to two customers on the premises at any given time under UDC Section 16-3.1, whether it's licensed as a professional home office or a home occupation. Home occupations can also hire up to three non-resident employees and keep two business vehicles on site; professional home offices allow zero outside employees and one vehicle. The county's planning director can revoke a license for exceeding these caps.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Forsyth County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

(A) Professional Home Offices... A professional home office shall comply with all of the following performance criteria and general requirements set forth in this article: ... (3) There shall be no non-resident employees working upon the property for which a professional home office license has been granted; and (4) There shall be only two customers on the premises; and (5) No more than one (1) vehicle, used primarily as a passenger vehicle, shall be permitted in connection with the professional home office. ... (B) Home Occupations... only one (1) home occupation is allowed per residence. ... (3) The number of part or full-time non-resident employees working upon the premises for which a home occupation license has been granted shall not exceed three (3) employees; and (4) There shall only be only two (2) customers on the premises at any given time except as noted in 16-3.1(D); and ... (6) No more than two (2) vehicles, used primarily as passenger vehicles, shall be permitted in connection with the home occupation.

Source: Official Code of Georgia AnnotatedView official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 43).

Full Breakdown

The Unified Development Code splits home-based businesses into two license types with different customer, employee and vehicle caps. 1(A)). 1(B)). , seven days a week, after a public hearing. 2(L)). The director of Planning & Community Development can revoke a license if the operation's activities change beyond what was approved or if there is reasonable cause to believe performance standards, including the customer cap, are being violated. 2(J)). 3(A)).

Violations & Fines

Exceeding the two-customer cap, adding unauthorized employees or vehicles, or ignoring conditions imposed on a license are all grounds for the Planning & Community Development director to revoke a home occupation or professional home office license under UDC § 16-3.2(L). Refusing a compliance inspection can trigger immediate discontinuation of the license under § 16-3.2(J). Any revocation decision can be appealed to the Zoning Board of Appeals under § 16-3.3(A) within the timeframe set by Chapter 8 procedures.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many customers can visit a home business in Forsyth County at once?
Only two, no matter which license type the business holds. Unified Development Code § 16-3.1 caps both professional home offices and home occupations at two customers on the premises at any given time. The only exception is a Planning Commission-approved group instruction use on a five-acre-plus Agricultural or Agricultural-Residential parcel, which allows up to ten attendees between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
What happens if I exceed the customer or employee limits?
The Planning & Community Development director can revoke your home occupation or professional home office license under § 16-3.2(L) if activities exceed the approved scope or violate performance standards like the customer cap. You can appeal a revocation to the Zoning Board of Appeals under § 16-3.3(A), following the procedures set out in UDC Chapter 8.
Can I hire employees to work at my home business?
Only if you hold a home occupation license, not a professional home office license. A professional home office allows zero non-resident employees, while a home occupation permits up to three, on top of the same two-customer cap that applies to both license types under UDC § 16-3.1(A) and (B).

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Forsyth County

All Forsyth County rules

Compare Forsyth County to another location·View the Georgia home business overview

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