Beloit, WI Home Business: Zoning & Home Occupation Permits (2026)

2 of Chapter 19 sets home occupations up as performance-standard uses rather than a fixed list: any use that meets the standards is allowed as a home occupation unless specifically prohibited, and it must stay clearly incidental to the dwelling's residential use. Paragraph d caps the size of a home occupation at 25 percent of the floor area of the principal dwelling unit. Paragraph f requires the operator to be a full-time resident of that dwelling, and paragraph g limits outside help to a maximum of one full-time nonresident employee or two part-time nonresident employees, with part-time defined as no more than 4 hours per day.

Paragraph e bars four categories outright: repair, assembly or storage of vehicles or engine-powered equipment and large appliances; dispatch centers where employees report to be sent elsewhere; animal care or boarding facilities including kennels and stables; and food service businesses, including restaurants and catering. All activity and storage must stay inside the principal dwelling, not in an accessory building or garage, under paragraph i, and paragraph j bars any exterior change, such as new parking lots, paved setbacks or commercial-style lighting, that would make the dwelling look less residential. Paragraph k bars odor, vibration, noise, electrical interference or voltage fluctuation perceptible beyond the lot line, and forbids hazardous substances.