Arlington prohibits any exterior signage identifying a home occupation at a residential property. No signs, window graphics, illuminated lettering, or yard signs advertising a home business are permitted in residential zoning districts. The business must remain invisible from the street to preserve neighborhood character.
Arlington's Unified Development Code home occupation standards expressly prohibit any exterior advertising of the business. This means no signs affixed to the building, no freestanding yard signs, no window decals or painted graphics, no banners, no flags, no illuminated letters, and no sandwich boards. The business must appear, from the street, to be a normal residence. Home occupations may list the residential address on business cards, websites, and social media, but may not install any physical signage at the property identifying the business. Commercial vehicles with business lettering may be parked at the home only if the vehicle is a personal-use pickup or van of typical passenger size; larger logoed vehicles generally must be parked off-site. A standard residential address number, required by the city for emergency response, is not considered business signage and is always allowed. HOAs may impose additional sign restrictions, but the city rule applies regardless of HOA status. The signage prohibition applies equally to professional home offices and to cottage-food operations.
Violation of the signage rule can trigger a home occupation cease-and-desist and fines up to $500 per day of continuing violation. The business may be required to remove all signage within a short period or face additional enforcement. Contact Arlington Planning at (817) 459-6100 or Code Compliance at (817) 459-6777.
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