The county issues no home-occupation permit; your municipality does. In Allentown, a Type 1 no-impact home occupation is allowed by right, while a Type 2 (employees or clients) is by right only on an arterial-street lot and otherwise needs a special exception from the Zoning Hearing Board.
Because Pennsylvania counties do not zone, home-occupation approval comes from Allentown or your borough/township. Under Allentown Zoning Ordinance Section 660-48.H, Type 2 home occupations are permitted by right as an accessory use only if the lot fronts an arterial street; on other lots they require special-exception approval under the Section 660-115 procedures. Type 2 rules limit the business to 25% of floor area, up to two nonresident employees, and client visits by appointment from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. A resident must live in the dwelling. Confirm zoning-permit steps with Allentown Planning & Zoning before opening.
Operating a Type 2 home occupation without the required special exception is a zoning violation subject to enforcement notices and fines until permitted or discontinued.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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