Westerville requires home occupations to be registered with the Planning and Development Department and comply with Codified Ordinances Section 1149.05. No external evidence of the business is allowed, non-resident employees are prohibited, and customer visits are strictly limited.
Under Codified Ordinances 1149.05, a home occupation is defined as an accessory use clearly incidental to the residential use of the dwelling. Key restrictions: (1) the business must be conducted entirely within the dwelling or an attached garage, (2) no more than 25 percent of the floor area may be used, (3) no employees other than residents of the dwelling, (4) no external signage beyond a 2 sq ft nameplate, (5) no outdoor storage of materials, (6) no retail sales on premises except by appointment, (7) customer visits limited to reasonable daytime hours and must not alter residential traffic patterns. Prohibited home occupations include auto repair, kennels, restaurants, medical clinics, and any use generating noise, odors, vibration, or traffic beyond typical residential levels. Ohio Cottage Food Law (ORC 3715.024) allows sale of non-hazardous baked goods up to $25,000 gross per year from home kitchens without additional city licensing.
First violation: written notice from zoning inspector with 30 days to cure. Continued violation: up to $150 per day civil fine. Unauthorized commercial traffic or signage: separate zoning enforcement action and potential cease-and-desist.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Westerville, OH
Westerville prohibits street parking for more than 48 consecutive hours on public streets under Codified Ordinance 351.16. Overnight parking is generally all...
Westerville, OH
Westerville allows up to 4 hens on residential lots with a permit. No roosters. Coops must be setback at least 25 feet from neighboring structures. The city'...
Westerville, OH
Westerville adopts the Ohio Residential Code smoke alarm requirements. Smoke alarms required in every sleeping room, outside sleeping areas, and on every lev...
Westerville, OH
Westerville allows recreational fire pits under Ohio Fire Code 307.4. Fires must be under 3 feet in diameter, 2 feet high, and at least 25 feet from any stru...
Westerville, OH
Westerville requires property owners to maintain vegetation and remove dead brush under Codified Ordinance 521.08. No defensible-space wildfire rules apply a...
Westerville, OH
Backyard recreational fires permitted in Westerville under Ohio Fire Code 307.4: 3-foot diameter maximum, 25-foot setback from structures, clean wood only. M...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Franklin County.
See how other cities in Franklin County handle home occupation permits.
See how Westerville's home occupation permits rules stack up against other locations.
Quick Compare
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.