Leander, TX Home Business: Home Occupation Permits (2026)

The City of Leander regulates home businesses as 'home occupations' under Article IV, Section 8 of the Composite Zoning Ordinance. Home occupations are listed as a permitted use (P) by right in every use component in the Use Matrix; the zoning ordinance does not set out a separate home-occupation permit application or annual license within Section 8. Instead, the home occupation must comply with all of the operational conditions in Section 8, which function as the regulatory standard: it must be conducted entirely within an enclosed structure by a family member; may not employ more than one person other than immediate family or lawful occupants residing on the premises (Section 8(f)); may not occupy more than 25 percent of the gross floor area of the dwelling (Section 8(k)); may not have outside storage, with no more than one business vehicle of up to three-quarter-ton rated capacity parked on or adjacent to residentially zoned property and no commercial-driver's-license vehicle parked there (Section 8(c)); and may not generate customer-related vehicular traffic in excess of three vehicles per twenty-four-hour day (Section 8(m)). A home occupation may not be offensive by reason of odor, noise, dust, smoke, hours of operation, debris, fumes, vibration, lighting or manner of operation (Section 8(i)). Any construction work tied to the business would require the applicable building permit, and a change of use generally requires a certificate of occupancy under Article X, Section 6. Operators should confirm any business-registration steps with the City and with Williamson County.