Ascension Parish, LA Home Business: Zoning & Home Occupation Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- UDC §17-2048
- Non-resident employees allowed
- maximum 2 at a time
- Floor-area cap
- 20% of building, max 750 sq ft
- Commercial vehicle limit
- one, 1-ton capacity or less
- Day care/teaching cap
- 6 pupils at a time
- Development permit
- not required if within limits
- Penalty
- $50-$500 fine or up to 30 days jail
Summary
In unincorporated Ascension Parish, a customary home occupation is permitted in any zoning district under UDC Section 17-2048 without a separate development permit, as long as it operates inside the house or an accessory building, uses no more than 20 percent of the floor area (capped at 750 square feet, except historic properties and bed and breakfasts), and involves no more than two employees beyond the resident family.
A.A customary home occupation is a business or profession carried on by an occupant of a dwelling as a secondary use which is clearly incidental to the main residential use. A home occupation may be operated in any district within the parish. Any construction which occurs in connection with the conduct of a home occupation, such as adding a home office on to a house, does not require a development permit. To take advantage of these exemptions, a home occupation shall comply with the following:1.It shall be conducted by family members residing on the premises and a maximum of two additional employees on the premises at any one time.2.It is conducted entirely within the principal building or related structures or accessory buildings and uses on the property out of sight of neighboring properties.3.It utilizes not more than 20 percent of the floor area of the principal building not to exceed 750 square feet, except for historic properties and bed and breakfast establishments.4.It produces no alteration or change in the character or exterior appearance of the principal building from that of a dwelling.
Full Breakdown
Section 17-2048 lets any resident of unincorporated Ascension Parish run a customary home occupation in any zoning district, and construction such as adding a home office does not trigger a development permit if the operation stays inside these limits. The business must be run by family members living on the premises plus a maximum of two additional employees present at any one time, conducted entirely within the principal building, related structures or accessory buildings out of sight of neighboring properties, and confined to no more than 20 percent of the principal building's floor area, capped at 750 square feet (historic properties and bed and breakfast uses are excepted).
The operation cannot alter the dwelling's exterior appearance, sell goods not made by the resident family, keep outside repair or storage, run a distribution center with bulk deliveries, or store more than one commercial vehicle of one-ton capacity or less per resident family. Subsection B lists qualifying occupations, including barbershops and beauty shops limited to two chairs and two operators, artists, dressmakers, tailors and interior decorators, professional offices for architects, accountants, lawyers, engineers, doctors, dentists and surveyors, bed and breakfasts with a residential appearance and guest parking, teaching, musical instruction and day care capped at six pupils at a time, record-keeping offices for electricians, plumbers, HVAC and other contractors who work off site, and sales agents handling orders and bookkeeping by phone. The Zoning Official may also approve any similar use accepted in the community as a home occupation.
Violations & Fines
Operating outside these limits is a zoning ordinance violation under UDC Section 17-2090(W): a fine of not less than $50.00 nor more than $500.00, up to 30 days in jail, or both, with each day the violation continues counted as a separate offense. The Zoning Official can also order the illegal use stopped or refer the matter for legal action to abate it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to run a home business in unincorporated Ascension Parish?
How many employees can a home business have?
Can I run a day care out of my house?
What happens if my home business breaks the rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ascension Parish
How Ascension Parish compares: Easiest Cities to Run a Home Business·Compare Ascension Parish to another location·View the Louisiana home business overview
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