Chesterfield permits home occupations in residential and agricultural zoning districts, provided the business is clearly incidental to the home. Certain uses, including beauty parlors, kennels, dance studios, auto repair, and bed-and-breakfasts, are prohibited as home occupations.
Under Chesterfield Zoning Ordinance Sections 19.1-52, 19.1-53, and 19.1-570, home occupations are allowed in residential and agricultural districts subject to standards. The use must be clearly incidental and secondary to dwelling use, and external alterations may not change the residential character. Prohibited home occupations include animal hospitals, barbershops, beauty parlors, convalescent/nursing/rest homes, dance studios, kennels, private clubs, motor vehicle body work/detailing/painting/repair, tourist homes (bed and breakfast), trash collection, and similar businesses serving the general public. Homeowner association rules or restrictive covenants may be stricter than county standards.
Operating a prohibited use or a home occupation that alters the property's residential character is a zoning violation enforced by the Planning Department.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Chesterfield County, VA
Backyard composting of yard and food waste is allowed in Chesterfield County and promoted as a waste-reduction practice. Compost must be kept so it does not ...
Chesterfield County, VA
Chesterfield County has no ordinance banning residential artificial turf. Synthetic lawns are generally allowed, subject to zoning, stormwater and drainage r...
Chesterfield County, VA
Chesterfield County does not require homeowners to plant native species in ordinary yards, but native and regionally appropriate plants are required for rest...
Chesterfield County, VA
Rainwater harvesting is legal and encouraged in Chesterfield County. There is no ordinance banning rain barrels or cisterns for residential lawn and garden u...
Chesterfield County, VA
Virginia has no statewide mandatory lawn-watering ban. Chesterfield County Utilities issues conservation measures during drought; as of summer 2026 restricti...
Chesterfield County, VA
Chesterfield County Code prohibits uncontrolled weeds and grass. Occupied residential lots under one-half acre are limited to 12 inches; vacant developed and...
See how Chesterfield County's zoning restrictions rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.