Baltimore County, MD Home Business: Zoning & Home Occupation Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Use type
- Accessory use in residence zones
- Stock in trade
- None sold on the premises
- Employees
- Only resident family or servants
- Equipment
- Household/domestic use only
- Exterior
- No display indicating non-dwelling use
Summary
The Baltimore County Zoning Regulations (BCZR) permit a home occupation as an accessory use in residence zones. It must keep no stock in trade sold on the premises, employ no one other than resident family members or servants, and use no mechanical equipment beyond ordinary household use.
Home Occupation: An occupation in connection with which there is used no display, (other than signs otherwise herein permitted), that will indicate from the exterior that the building is being utilized in whole or in part for any purpose other than that of a dwelling; in connection with which there is kept no stock in trade or commodity sold upon the premises, no person employed other than servants or a member of the immediate family residing on the premises.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 29 | Zoning Regulations: Supplement 10).
Full Breakdown
The BCZR defines a home occupation as "an occupation in connection with which there is used no display, (other than signs otherwise herein permitted), that will indicate from the exterior that the building is being utilized in whole or in part for any purpose other than that of a dwelling; in connection with which there is kept no stock in trade or commodity sold upon the premises, no person employed other than servants or a member of the immediate family residing on the premises, and no mechanical equipment except such as is used for purely domestic or household purposes." Home occupations are listed among the uses permitted in residence zones, provided the residential character of the dwelling is unchanged.
Violations & Fines
Operating a home business that exceeds these limits (retail sales on-site, non-family employees, customer traffic, or industrial equipment) is a zoning violation enforced by PAI/Code Enforcement, which can issue correction notices and citations and require the use to cease.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I run a shop out of my house?
Can I hire employees for my home business?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Baltimore County
How Baltimore County compares: Easiest Cities to Run a Home Business·Compare Baltimore County to another location·View the Maryland home business overview
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