Lexington, KY Home Business: Home Occupation Permits (2026)

The Lexington-Fayette Zoning Ordinance establishes two tiers of home-based work: home occupations (Section 3-10) and home-based businesses (Section 3-11). Both require a zoning compliance permit from the Division of Planning, as no property may be occupied for any use without one (per the zoning ordinance effective January 1, 2012). Home occupations under Section 3-10 are limited to 300 square feet of the dwelling, must be operated only by residents of the home, cannot have outside signage, and cannot receive customer visits except for pre-order pickup or repair drop-off. The use must be in the dwelling unit itself, not in accessory buildings. Escort service offices are specifically prohibited. Home-based businesses under Section 3-11 follow the same base rules but may apply for conditional use approval from the Board of Adjustment. The Board may set conditions regarding operating hours, customer visit frequency, soundproofing for equipment, and use of materials or chemicals. No additional parking paving is allowed under either category. The use cannot adversely affect neighboring properties through traffic, noise, or odors.