Lyon County, NV Home Business: Zoning & Home Occupation Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Floor area cap
- 25% of one floor of the principal building
- Staff limit
- Residents plus one nonresident assistant, maximum
- Outdoor storage
- Not permitted for any home occupation
- Licensing
- Valid Lyon County business license required
Summary
Lyon County allows a defined list of home occupations, like bookkeeping, tutoring or a one-chair barbershop, in any residential district as long as the business stays entirely inside the house, uses no more than 25 percent of one floor, and keeps a valid county business license.
W. Home Occupation, General: ... The following list identifies those occupations which may be conducted from a residence in any district. ... ... 1. The use must be conducted entirely within the interior of the residence, must be clearly incidental and secondary to residential occupancy, and may not change the residential character of the dwelling. 2. The use of the dwelling for a home occupation may not exceed up to twenty five percent (25%) of one floor of the principal building. ... ... 4. No activity can take place as a home occupation which involves any outdoor storage. 5. All parking needs brought about by the operation of the home occupation must be met through off street parking (including any customer parking). ... ... 6. All uses allowed under home occupations must maintain a valid County business license and any State and/or Federal licenses (if necessary).
Full Breakdown
Lyon County Code § 15.335.03(W) lists the occupations Community Development treats as a legitimate 'Home Occupation, General' in any zoning district, covering roles such as accounting, appraisal, architecture, computer repair, drafting, engineering, financial planning, insurance sales, legal services, mail-order taking, music instruction, a one-chair beauty or barber shop, pet grooming, photo lab work, planning, real estate sales and tutoring, plus 'similar, low impact endeavors.' Six standards apply across the whole list. The business has to run entirely inside the residence and stay clearly incidental to living there, never changing the home's residential character.
It cannot use more than 25 percent of one floor of the principal building. Only residents may run it, with no more than one nonresident assistant employed. No outdoor storage of any kind is allowed. Every parking need the business creates, including customer parking, must be met off-street, and a driveway can count only if it sits on the same parcel as the home occupation, subject to the Director's sign-off. Finally, every home occupation must carry a valid Lyon County business license plus any required State or Federal license.
An occupation not on the list, or one that outgrows these limits, has to move up to the separate Home Based Business category under subsection (X), which allows a detached accessory building instead of the residence itself.
Violations & Fines
Running a home occupation that spills outside the house, eats more than 25 percent of a floor, hires more than one nonresident assistant, stores materials outdoors, or operates without a current county business license is a zoning violation. Community Development or code enforcement can order the use stopped or brought into compliance and pursue civil penalties for continued operation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I run any business from my Lyon County home?
How much of my house can a home occupation use?
Do I need a license to run a home occupation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lyon County
How Lyon County compares: Easiest Cities to Run a Home Business·Compare Lyon County to another location·View the Nevada home business overview
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