Corpus Christi Home Business: Home Occupation Permits Rules (2026)

The Corpus Christi Unified Development Code treats home occupations as accessory uses permitted by right in residential districts, meaning no separate home occupation permit is needed as long as all performance standards are satisfied. These standards include limiting the business to 25 percent or less of the gross floor area, restricting nonresident employees to one, prohibiting outdoor storage and commercial vehicles, keeping signage to a small nameplate, and ensuring that traffic, noise, and other impacts remain consistent with residential character. Operators should obtain any required state professional licenses, file a DBA (assumed name certificate) with the Nueces County Clerk if operating under a business name, and collect Texas sales tax if selling taxable goods or services. The city may require a business tax receipt depending on the nature of the activity, which can be obtained through the citys Finance Department. If a proposed home occupation exceeds standard thresholds, such as requiring multiple employees, generating significant customer traffic, or needing exterior modifications, a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) or Specific Use Permit may be required. CUP applications go through the Development Services Department and require review by the Planning Commission, with potential conditions of approval related to hours of operation, parking, and buffering. Texas Local Government Code Chapter 211 authorizes these zoning regulations. Businesses that operate without meeting UDC standards face Code Compliance enforcement including notices of violation and monetary penalties under the citys administrative adjudication process.