Sumner County, TN Home Business: Zoning & Home Occupation Permits (2026)

Section 1101(P) of the Zoning Resolution sets the ground rules. Under the general requirements in P.1, a home-based business must be conducted inside the operator's bona fide residence or an accessory building normally associated with residential use; it cannot alter the outside appearance or character of the dwelling, and no stock-in-trade may be displayed where it is visible from the street. The business cannot create off-site vibration, heat, glare, dust, odor, noise, or smoke, cannot interfere electrically or magnetically with neighbors, cannot draw utility service that hurts delivery to surrounding properties, and cannot store hazardous materials beyond residential quantities. Delivery is limited to passenger vehicles, mail carriers, and express carriers such as UPS, FedEx, or DHL.

'Minor' home-based businesses are permitted by right in every residential district, including residential portions of approved planned developments; the Planning Director issues the permit administratively if all standards are met, or refers a close case to the Board of Zoning Appeals (Sec. 1101(P)(2)). A minor operation is limited to one nonresident employee on site, may not occupy more than 25 percent of the principal structure's floor area (or 500 square feet of an accessory structure), and is capped at one business vehicle that cannot park in the front yard. Automobile repair, kennels and veterinary clinics, medical or dental clinics, restaurants and bars, funeral homes, retail sales of goods not made on the premises, and adult entertainment are barred outright from the minor category; the Planning Director decides whether an unlisted use is similar to one of those bans.

Anything exceeding the minor thresholds must be approved as a 'major' home-based business, which requires a Special Exception from the Board of Zoning Appeals under the standards in Chapter 14.