Allegheny County, PA Home Business: Zoning & Home Occupation Permits (2026)

"No-impact home-based business," a business or commercial activity administered or conducted as an accessory use which is clearly secondary to the use as a residential dwelling and which involves no customer, client or patient traffic, whether vehicular or pedestrian, pickup, delivery or removal functions to or from the premises, in excess of those normally associated with residential use. The business or commercial activity must satisfy the following requirements: (1) The business activity shall be compatible with the residential use of the property and surrounding residential uses. (2) The business shall employ no employees other than family members residing in the dwelling. (3) There shall be no display or sale of retail goods and no stockpiling or inventory of a substantial nature. (4) There shall be no outside appearance of a business use, including, but not limited to, parking, signs or lights. (5) The business activity may not use any equipment or process which creates noise, vibration, glare, fumes, odors or electrical or electronic interference, including interference with radio or television reception, which is detectable in the neighborhood. (6) The business activity may not generate any solid waste or sewage discharge in volume or type which is not normally associated with residential use in the neighborhood. (7) The business activity shall be conducted only within the dwelling and may not occupy more than 25% of the habitable floor area. (8) The business may not involve any illegal activity.