A home occupation is allowed in Buncombe County residential zoning as a use conducted entirely within the dwelling or an accessory structure and clearly incidental to residential use. It cannot occupy more than 25 percent of the dwelling's floor space, and no more than two non-resident employees may work there.
Under the Buncombe County Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 78), a home occupation is defined in Sec. 78-581, and Sec. 78-665 makes those definitional standards the operative rule. The use must be conducted entirely within a dwelling or accessory structure by the occupants, be clearly incidental and secondary to residential use, and occupy no more than 25 percent of the dwelling's floor space or the entire accessory structure. There may be no display, no outside storage, and no change in outside appearance other than one unlighted sign. This county rule applies only to unincorporated land; Asheville, Black Mountain, and other towns set their own home-occupation zoning.
Running a home business beyond the home-occupation limits is a zoning violation enforced by Buncombe County Planning through notices of violation, civil penalties, and abatement under the Chapter 78 zoning ordinance and NC Gen. Stat. Chapter 160D.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Buncombe County, NC
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