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Allentown, PA Home Business: Zoning & Home Occupation Permits (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified June 2026

Key Facts

Code Section
Section 660-48 (Home Occupations); Section 660-114 (Zoning Permits)
Zoning permit
Required before commencing any home occupation
Type 1 (no-impact)
Allowed as of right
Type 2 (employees/customers on site)
Special exception required unless lot fronts an arterial street/mixed-use corridor
Special exception authority
Zoning Hearing Board (Section 660-115)
Ordinance
No. 16166, effective January 1, 2026

Summary

Allentown requires a zoning permit before commencing any new home occupation. Type 1 (no-impact) businesses are allowed as of right, but Type 2 home occupations on lots without arterial-street frontage require special exception approval from the Zoning Hearing Board.

660-48.H TYPE 2 HOME OCCUPATIONS. Type 2 home occupations are permitted as of right as an accessory use to a principal use in the household living use category if the subject lot has frontage on an arterial street. Type 2 home occupations are allowed on lots without frontage on an arterial street only if approved in accordance with special exception procedures of 660-115. All type 2 home occupations are subject to the following regulations. ... 660-114.A APPLICABILITY. A zoning permit is required from the zoning officer before any of the following: (1) The commencement of a new or expanded use of land or structure or the development of new or expanded outdoor storage or display, or parking or loading area.

View official code

Full Breakdown

Allentown's Zoning Ordinance (No. 16166, effective January 1, 2026) regulates home-based work as 'home occupations' in Section 660-48. G). H). Special exception applications are filed after the zoning officer reviews the zoning permit application and determines that special exception approval is required, and are decided by the Zoning Hearing Board after a public hearing. D).

Violations & Fines

Operating a home occupation without a required zoning permit, or operating a Type 2 use that requires (but lacks) special exception approval, is a violation of the zoning ordinance. Under Section 660-123.D, a person, partnership, or corporation found liable in a civil enforcement proceeding must pay a judgment of not more than $500.00 plus all court costs plus reasonable attorney fees, and each day the violation continues is a separate offense.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit to run a small no-impact business from my Allentown home?
A zoning permit is required before commencing any new home occupation under Section 660-114.A. A Type 1 (no-impact home-based) business is allowed as of right, so it does not need a special exception, but you must still satisfy the zoning permit and all Type 1 performance standards in Section 660-48.G.
When does a home business need a special exception in Allentown?
A Type 2 home occupation - one where employees or customers come to the site - is permitted as of right only if the lot fronts an arterial street or mixed-use corridor. On any other lot, a Type 2 home occupation requires special exception approval from the Zoning Hearing Board under Section 660-115.
Are home daycares treated as home occupations?
No. Under Section 660-48.D, family child care homes and group child care homes are exempt from the home-occupation regulations, but they remain subject to all applicable permitting requirements.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Allentown

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All Allentown rules

How Allentown compares: Easiest Cities to Run a Home Business·Compare Allentown to another location·View the Pennsylvania home business overview

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