Davis County, UT Home Business: Zoning & Home Occupation Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Max floor area
- 20% of home or 400 sq ft
- Employees allowed
- Only residents of the dwelling
- Signage
- No sign or advertising on premises
- Compliance required
- Fire, building, plumbing, electrical, health codes
- Max penalty
- $1,000 fine or 6 months jail
Summary
Davis County Code Section 15.20.150 caps a home occupation at 20 percent of the dwelling's floor area or 400 square feet, whichever is smaller, bars any employee who does not live in the home, and bans signs or advertising on the premises. The business also has to stay invisible to neighbors in color, noise, odor and appearance.
Home Occupations. The home occupation must be clearly incidental to the use of the dwelling for dwelling purposes and shall not change the character or appearance of the dwelling or neighborhood. Furthermore, it shall not unreasonably disturb the neighborhood by reason of color, design, materials, construction. odors, lighting, sounds, noises, or vibrations. Employment shall be limited to those persons residing in the dwelling unit. No home occupation shall occupy more than twenty (20) percent of the gross floor area to a maximum of four hundred (400) square feet. No sign or advertising shall be displayed on the premises. The home occupation shall generate no greater vehicular traffic than commonly associated with the neighborhood in which it is located i.e., heavy trucks, delivery or similar vehicles, or other traffic factors. There shall be complete conformity with fire, building, plumbing, electrical and health codes and to all State and County ordinances. The home occupation shall not create a hazard by using flammable, explosive or other dangerous materials or by keeping, raising, or storing animals which are capable of inflicting harm or discomfort or endangering the health and safety of any person or property. The home occupation shall not create a demand for municipal or utility services or community facilities in excess of those usually and customarily provided for residential uses.
Full Breakdown
150's Home Occupations provisions set the standards a home-based business must meet in unincorporated Davis County. The occupation has to stay clearly incidental to the dwelling's residential use and cannot change the character or appearance of the home or neighborhood, and it cannot unreasonably disturb the neighborhood through color, design, materials, construction, odors, lighting, sounds, noises or vibrations. Employment is limited to people who live in the dwelling unit, so hiring outside staff to work on site is not allowed. Floor area is capped at 20 percent of the dwelling's gross floor area or 400 square feet, whichever is smaller, and no sign or advertising of any kind can be displayed on the premises.
The business has to fully comply with fire, building, plumbing, electrical and health codes and with all state and county ordinances, and it cannot use flammable, explosive or other dangerous materials, or keep, raise or store animals capable of inflicting harm. It also cannot create demand for municipal or utility services beyond what a normal residential use requires, and it cannot involve equipment, fixtures, plumbing or wiring incompatible with a residential area because of excessive noise, utility use, waste production or broadcast interference. Davis County Community Development checks these standards through the business license and zoning review process.
Violations & Fines
Operating a home occupation that exceeds the 400-square-foot/20-percent floor area cap, employs outside workers, or displays signage is a zoning violation under Section 15.20.150. It is prosecuted under the county's general ordinance penalty, Section 1.08.010, a Class B misdemeanor with a fine up to $1,000 and up to six months in jail, with Section 1.08.020 adding a new offense for each day the business operates out of compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much of my house can I use for a home business?
Can I hire an employee to work at my home-based business?
Can I put up a sign advertising my home business?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Davis County
How Davis County compares: Easiest Cities to Run a Home Business·Compare Davis County to another location·View the Utah home business overview
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