Laredo allows home occupations as accessory uses in residential zones with a Certificate of Occupancy from the Planning and Zoning Department. The business must be clearly incidental to the dwelling, employ only residents plus limited outside help, and generate no traffic, noise, or signage beyond normal residential levels.
The Laredo Land Development Code (LDC) regulates home occupations under its residential district use tables. Permitted home occupations include professional services (accountants, attorneys, consultants), tutoring, small crafts, and online businesses. Operators must apply for a Certificate of Occupancy through the Building Development Services Department, pay the applicable fee, and pass a zoning review. Standards typically require that no more than 25 percent of floor area be used for the business, no exterior evidence of commercial activity (no signs, no stock displays), no retail sales on premises, and no equipment creating noise, vibration, glare, or odor detectable beyond the lot line. On-street customer parking is limited, and no more than one non-resident employee may work on site. Auto repair, welding, kennels, and similar intensive uses are prohibited as home occupations and require commercial zoning.
Operating without Certificate of Occupancy or violating home occupation standards is a zoning violation subject to municipal court citation with fines up to 2,000 dollars per day for public health and safety violations.
See how Laredo's home occupation permits rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.