Franklin, TN Home Business: Zoning & Home Occupation Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Floor area cap
- 25% of principal building
- Ownership rule
- Owner-operated by resident
- Outside employees
- Max one non-resident employee
- Approval needed
- Dept. of Building & Neighborhood Services
Summary
Franklin, Tennessee requires home occupations to stay inside the house or an accessory building, cap floor area at 25 percent, and be owner-operated with no more than one outside employee.
Home occupations shall: a. Be located entirely within the principal building and not exceed 25 percent of the total floor area of the principal building, or as an alternative, be located entirely within an accessory building... iii. Be owned and operated by the person residing in the principal building; iv. Employ no more than one person on the premises who does not reside on the premises;
Full Breakdown
Franklin's 2026 Zoning Ordinance folds home occupations into its accessory-use framework: they need approval from the Department of Building and Neighborhood Services under Section 5.2.1.D, and unless a site plan is otherwise required they don't need a separate hearing. Substantively, Section 5.2.7.G.3 caps a home occupation at 25 percent of the principal building's floor area, or lets it move into an accessory building instead, requires it to be owned and operated by the person who lives in the house, and limits it to employing no more than one person who doesn't reside on the premises. It also bars exterior changes to the dwelling, extra overnight non-residential vehicles, and on-site advertising signs.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the 25% floor-area cap, employing more than one outside worker, or violating other home-occupation standards is a misdemeanor zoning violation, with each day a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to run a home business in Franklin?
Can I hire employees for my Franklin home business?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Franklin
How Franklin compares: Easiest Cities to Run a Home Business·Compare Franklin to another location·View the Tennessee home business overview
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