Benton County, AR Home Business: Zoning & Home Occupation Permits (2026)

6 classifies any business run entirely inside a dwelling or accessory building, and clearly incidental to the residential or farm use of the property, as a Home and Rural Family Occupation. In rural areas with lots of two acres or more, the definition extends to commercial or farm-related activity in accessory buildings that does not change the area's rural or agricultural character; subdivision covenants are not overridden by these county rules. A lists the criteria a home occupation must meet, all together, to operate allowed by right with no Planning Board review: no more than 25% of the home's or accessory building's gross floor area used for the business; the resident owner must primarily operate it; internet, phone or fax sales stay incidental to the residential or farm use; no building-code or septic upgrade from residential to commercial standards is needed; and the use creates no noise, vibration, glare, fumes, electromagnetic interference, odors, or air or water pollution beyond the dwelling or accessory building.

Examples the county lists as exempt include child care for five or fewer children, independent consultants, home offices, a one-chair beauty salon, and apparel alteration; on rural lots of two acres or more it extends to small repair or welding shops, cabinet making, and seasonal farm-animal sales up to four times a year on weekends. Uses like bed-and-breakfasts, kennels, towing, auto wrecking, junkyards, restaurants and medical or dental clinics are listed as non-exempt and must go through full site plan review.