Gwinnett County, GA Home Business: Zoning & Home Occupation Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Zoning status
- Conditional Use, all residential districts
- Dwelling area cap
- 25% maximum
- On-site clients
- 2 at a time
- Deviation requires
- Special Use Permit
- Scope
- unincorporated county only
Summary
Unincorporated Gwinnett allows customary home occupations as a conditional use in every residential zoning district, but caps them at 25% of the dwelling and family-only staffing: deviations need a Special Use Permit.
210-140.9 Customary Home Occupation. Customary Home Occupations shall be subject to the following requirements and restrictions: A. The home occupation shall be carried on only by a member or members of the family residing in the residence. ... H. No more than 25 percent of the dwelling unit may be used for conducting the home occupation. ... J. Any deviations from these requirements shall require approval as a Special Use Permit.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 9).
Full Breakdown
Gwinnett County's Unified Development Ordinance lists a customary home occupation as a conditional use permitted in every residential zoning district under Section 210-130, with the operating standards set in Section 210-140.9. No separate zoning permit is required if the operator meets every listed condition: family members only, no more than 25 percent of the dwelling used, no exterior evidence of the business, and no increase in traffic or parking. Any operator who cannot meet these fixed conditions must instead obtain a Special Use Permit from the Board of Commissioners. This governs unincorporated Gwinnett County only; the county's sixteen cities set their own rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to run a home business in unincorporated Gwinnett County?
Can I hire outside employees for my home occupation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Gwinnett County
How Gwinnett County compares: Easiest Cities to Run a Home Business·Compare Gwinnett County to another location·View the Georgia home business overview
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