Each Schenectady County municipality regulates home occupations through its zoning code. Typical rules: use is clearly accessory, no outside employees, limited signage, no retail display, no customer traffic disruption. No countywide permit exists.
City of Schenectady Zoning Article V allows customary home occupations without a permit if the business occupies under 25% of the dwelling, no non-resident employees, and no outdoor storage. Niskayuna, Rotterdam, and Glenville use similar standards — many require a zoning certificate for formal recognition. No countywide home-occupation regulation applies. State-licensed professionals (attorneys, CPAs, therapists) generally operate by right as customary occupations.
Zoning violations: $100–$500 per occurrence; cease-and-desist order and loss of accessory-use status.
See how Schenectady County's home occupation permits rules stack up against other locations.
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