Jersey City allows home occupations as accessory uses under Chapter 345 without a separate permit, but the use must stay under 25 percent of floor area with no outside employees or signage.
Chapter 345 of the Jersey City Code of Ordinances (Land Development Ordinance) defines home occupations as accessory uses customarily conducted within a dwelling unit. Home occupations are permitted in all residential zones without a separate permit provided the following conditions are met: the business is conducted only by members of the resident family; no more than 25 percent of the floor area is devoted to the use; no outside employees work on the premises; no exterior evidence (signs, displays, stock) indicates the business; no stock-in-trade is kept for sale on the premises; no mechanical or electrical equipment is used beyond normal household use; and customer/client visits do not generate traffic or parking demand out of character with the neighborhood. Prohibited home occupations typically include auto repair, commercial kitchens, medical clinics, and retail stores. A Mercantile License from the Jersey City Division of Commerce may still be required if the business receives customers or makes retail sales, and businesses must obtain a NJ state tax ID and comply with local business registration.
Operating a prohibited home occupation or violating accessory use standards: fines and cease-and-desist orders under Chapter 345, enforced by the Division of Zoning.
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