Home occupations in Monroe County's unincorporated areas require a Home Occupation Special Use Permit from Monroe County Planning & Environmental Resources. The home business must remain incidental to residential use.
In Monroe County's unincorporated areas (areas under county zoning jurisdiction), operating a home-based business requires a Home Occupation Special Use Permit. The Director of Planning & Environmental Resources issues these permits. Key requirements include: the home occupation must be incidental and secondary to residential use; must not change the essential residential character of the building; no more than one non-resident employee may be employed on-site; the business cannot occupy more than 20% of the total floor area; and the business cannot increase average daily vehicle trips generated by the residence. The permit is non-transferable — it applies to the specific resident and location only. In addition to the county permit, operators may also need an Occupational License from the Monroe County Tax Collector. Cities and towns within Monroe County (Rochester, Greece, Webster, etc.) have their own home occupation ordinances.
Operating without a required permit or violating permit conditions can result in Monroe County Code Enforcement action.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Monroe County.
See how Gates's zoning restrictions rules stack up against other locations.
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