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Chesterfield County, VA Home Business: Zoning & Home Occupation Permits (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified July 2026

Key Facts

Clients on-site
Two maximum at one time
Employees
Resident family members only
Size limit
25% of floor area or 250 sq ft
Storage
Light inventory only, no outside storage
Vehicles
One vehicle plus one small trailer

Summary

A home occupation is allowed by right if it meets county standards: no more than two clients on-site at once, only resident family-member employees, use limited to 25% of floor area or 250 sq ft, no group assembly, and no outside storage.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Chesterfield County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

Clients: No more than two clients may be on the premises at any one time. Employees: Only family member employees living on the premises may work on the premises. Home occupations may not exceed 25% of dwelling floor area or 250 square feet, whichever is greater, and must be located inside a dwelling or structure.

Full Breakdown

Chesterfield Zoning Ordinance Sections 19.1-52, 19.1-53, and 19.1-570 set the home occupation standards. No more than two clients may be on the premises at any one time, and only family members living in the home may work on-site. Group assembly or instruction is barred, though one-on-one instruction is allowed. The occupation may not exceed 25% of the dwelling floor area or 250 square feet, whichever is greater, and must be inside a dwelling or structure. Only light inventory may be kept; outside storage of materials is prohibited. Parking is limited to one motor vehicle (under 10,000 lbs) and one small trailer. A separate zoning permit is not required if these standards are met.

Violations & Fines

Exceeding the client, employee, size, storage, or vehicle limits is a zoning violation; a business exceeding the standards may require a conditional use permit or must cease.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hire employees for my home business?
Only family members who live on the premises may work on site. No other employees are permitted to work at the home occupation.
How much of my house can the business use?
The home occupation may not exceed 25% of the dwelling floor area or 250 square feet, whichever is greater, and must be located inside the dwelling or a structure.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Chesterfield County

All Chesterfield County rules

How Chesterfield County compares: Easiest Cities to Run a Home Business·Compare Chesterfield County to another location·View the Virginia home business overview

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