Grand Forks, ND Home Business: Zoning & Home Occupation Permits (2026)

Section 18-0204's 'Home occupation' definition is the single standard the Land Development Code applies across zoning districts whenever a use table lists 'home occupation' as permitted or conditional. Subsection (A) requires the use to stay 'clearly incidental and subordinate' to the dwelling's residential purpose and caps the floor area devoted to the business at 30 percent of the dwelling. Subsection (B) bars any change in the outside appearance of the building or premises, or any other visible evidence of the business, aside from one home occupation sign as separately defined and regulated under Section 18-0301's sign rules.

Subsection (C) allows the occupation to spread into accessory buildings, but carves out automotive repair and commercial kennels from that allowance, so those two uses cannot expand into a garage or shed the way other home occupations can. Subsection (D) is a flat rule against retail sales connected with the home occupation. The A-1 and A-2 agricultural districts add their own version of the same standard at Section 18-0206(3)(M), which layers on a limit of one part-time non-household employee alongside household members, plus a 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. hours-of-operation window that the citywide definition does not include.

Any zoning district's use table that marks 'home occupation' with a 'P/C' or similar footnote is pointing back to these conditions rather than granting the use outright.