Alpharetta, GA Home Business: Zoning & Home Occupation Permits (2026)

The City of Alpharetta does not require a discretionary permit for most home occupations; instead, UDC Section 2.3.3.A defines the use and lists twelve conditions that make it lawful as an accessory use in a dwelling unit. The core floor-area standard caps the business space at 'not more than 25% of the floor area, not to exceed 500 square feet, of the dwelling unit building,' and the use 'shall be carried on wholly within the dwelling unit principal building,' meaning a detached garage or shed connected only by a breezeway does not count as part of the home for this purpose.

Beyond floor area, the same subsection also restricts signage, business vehicles, outside storage, outside employees, motor horsepower, and daily non-residential trips. The final condition imposes a time-of-day quiet standard: 'no aspect of the home occupation which is noticeable to neighbors shall be conducted between the hours of 9:00 p.m. of one evening and 7:00 a.m. of the next day,' which covers noise, deliveries, or visible activity rather than just the hours the resident is working. Because these are baseline zoning standards rather than a licensing scheme, a resident who meets all twelve conditions does not need City Council or Board of Zoning Appeals approval; Community Development enforces compliance the same way it enforces any other zoning standard, through inspection and complaint response rather than upfront permitting.