Clark County, IN Home Business: Zoning & Home Occupation Permits (2026)

05 defines a HOME OCCUPATION as an occupation or activity conducted within a dwelling, or an accessory structure on the same premises, by the occupants themselves, that stays clearly incidental and secondary to the property's residential use; the definition specifically extends to a small business run out of a barn, garage, or other outbuilding by the owner and the owner's family. 48 lists 'Home occupation' as Special Use 31, so it is not a use permitted by right in a residential or agricultural district; the resident must first get Board of Zoning Appeals approval through the special-use procedure, including a site plan, a public hearing with ten-day mailed notice to abutting property owners, and a posted sign on the property.

48(C)(5) layers three specific conditions onto every Home Occupation special use: the business cannot be visible from outside the premises, except for the shipment and receipt of goods needed for the occupation; no one may be employed at the site other than the resident or residents for whom the special use was granted, so hiring outside staff to work on site is off the table; and the use cannot be changed from the specific home occupation the applicant described in the application. 48(C)(3), such as additional yard setbacks, added parking, or a time limit on the approval.