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Stafford County, VA Home Business: Customer Traffic Restrictions (2026)

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

Key Facts

Home Business I daily cap
5 customer visits per day
Home Business II daily cap
10 customer visits per day
Visit definition
One vehicle, up to 6 passengers
Weekday hours
8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. Mon-Fri
Sunday hours
10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Employees allowed (Business II)
Up to 2 non-family employees

Summary

Stafford County caps customer visits to a Home Business I at five per day, by appointment only, within set weekday, Saturday and Sunday hours, under Zoning Ordinance § 28-25. A Home Business II, which allows up to two employees, may take up to ten customer visits per day under the same appointment and hours rules.

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

Home business I. An occupation, profession, business, trade, e-commerce, or handicraft, carried on by the occupant of a single-family dwelling as an accessory use, which meets the following standards: ... (3)Customer visits may occur:a.By appointment only and shall be scheduled in a manner which does not permit customers to wait for their appointments;b.Up to six (6) days per week between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. EST Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. EST Saturday, and 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST Sunday; andc.No more than five (5) total customer visits are permitted per day. ... Home business II. An occupation, profession, business, trade, e-commerce, or handicraft carried on by the occupants of a single-family dwelling as an accessory use, which exceeds the definition and standards for home business I, and meets the following standards: ... c.No more than ten (10) total customer visits are permitted per day.

Full Breakdown

Section 28-25 defines a "Home business I" as an occupation, profession, business, trade, e-commerce or handicraft an occupant runs from a single-family dwelling as an accessory use, and it sets nine standards the business must meet. m. m. m. Sunday, with no more than five total customer visits permitted per day; one visit is defined as a vehicle carrying up to six passengers arriving at the property. The business also cannot use more than 25 percent of the home's finished floor area, cannot store goods outdoors, and cannot employ anyone besides resident family members.

A "Home business II" follows the same appointment-only structure and hours but allows up to two non-family employees on-site and raises the daily cap to ten total customer visits; it may also occupy an accessory building if that structure sits at least 30 feet from all property lines and outside front-yard setbacks. Both categories require sufficient off-street parking beyond what the residence itself needs and permit no more than one or two associated commercial vehicles, respectively, each under 13,000 pounds, with fleet parking barred outright.

Violations & Fines

Exceeding the daily visit cap, allowing walk-in customers instead of scheduled appointments, or operating outside the permitted hours violates § 28-25's home business standards and is enforceable as a zoning violation under § 28-311, with each day of noncompliance a separate offense. The zoning administrator may issue a civil summons carrying a $100 fine for a first offense and $150 for later offenses, capped at $3,000 for violations arising from the same facts, under § 28-314(d).

Frequently Asked Questions

How many customers can visit a home business per day in Stafford County?
A Home Business I is capped at five total customer visits per day, while a Home Business II, which allows up to two non-family employees, is capped at ten visits per day, both under Zoning Ordinance § 28-25's home business definitions.
What hours can home business customers visit?
Visits must be by appointment only, allowed up to six days a week between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Saturday, and 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sunday, per § 28-25.
Can a home business hire employees who don't live in the house?
A Home Business I may not have any employees besides resident family members. A Home Business II may employ up to two people who are not family residents of the home, working on the premises at any given time, under the same § 28-25 definitions.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Stafford County

All Stafford County rules

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