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

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

Key Facts

Clients allowed
none, except individual instruction
Example exception
tutoring, music lessons only
Governing section
§ 134-1, 'Customary home occupation'
Scope
unincorporated Cobb County only

Summary

Cobb County's zoning code bars home-based businesses in unincorporated areas from hosting clients or customers, except for one-on-one instruction like tutoring or music lessons.

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

(8)No clients or customers are allowed on the premises, except for individual instruction, such as tutoring, musical lessons and the like, for the purpose of supplementing an income. Deck means a roofless accessory attached or detached platform without exterior walls, generally constructed of wood, which adjoins a residence. Rails or safety features shall not be deemed to be exterior walls.

Designated recycling collection location means metal or heavy duty plastic containers, bins or dumpsters designed for shortterm holding of pre-bagged recyclable items such as tin, aluminum, glass and paper (no perishable or food items allowed) for scheduled minimum monthly pickup, with no on-premises sorting. The center must be maintained in a safe, clean, neat and sanitary fashion and shall not encompass an area larger than 280 square feet.

(1)Such location shall be visually screened and maintained.(2)Such location shall be within the building setbacks unless otherwise approved by the division manager of zoning or his designee due to topography, safety, internal traffic flow, site distance or for other site-related circumstances not created by the property owner. Donation drop boxes means any enclosed container or receptacle made of metal, steel, or a similar durable material and designed or intended for the donation and temporary storage of clothing or other materials.

View 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 53).

Full Breakdown

Under the zoning definition of 'customary home occupation' in section 134-1, a home business loses its by-right status if it invites customer traffic to the residence. The code allows only one narrow carve-out: individual instruction such as tutoring or music lessons, done to supplement income. Businesses that receive walk-in clients, retail customers or group sessions at the house don't qualify as a customary home occupation and fall outside the uses zoning tables permit in residential districts across unincorporated Cobb County.

Violations & Fines

Hosting customers or clients beyond individual instruction disqualifies the business from customary-home-occupation status under section 134-1, exposing the operator to a zoning violation in a residential district.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see clients at my Cobb County home business?
Only for individual instruction like tutoring or music lessons. Section 134-1 otherwise bars clients or customers from visiting a customary home occupation.
What if I run a salon or consulting business from home?
Regular walk-in clients disqualify the use as a customary home occupation under section 134-1, since only individual instruction is exempted.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Cobb County

All Cobb County rules

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

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