DeKalb County, GA Home Business: Zoning & Home Occupation Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Governs
- Unincorporated DeKalb County only
- Type I
- No customer contact, admin approval
- Type II
- Customer contact, needs SLUP
- Space limit
- 25% of dwelling or 500 sq ft
- Vehicles
- One business vehicle per occupation
Summary
Unincorporated DeKalb County splits home businesses into no-contact Type I home occupations, approved administratively, and customer-contact Type II home occupations, which need a special land use permit and stay under 25% of the dwelling or 500 square feet.
A home occupation where no customer contact occurs shall be considered a Type I home occupation and may be conducted with administrative approval by the director of planning...All home occupations other than Type I home occupations shall be considered a Type II home occupation and shall require a special land use permit (SLUP)...No more than twenty-five (25) percent of the dwelling unit and or five hundred (500) square feet, whichever is less, may be used for the operation of the home occupation.
Full Breakdown
DeKalb County Code § 27-4.2.31 governs home occupations in unincorporated areas (not Decatur, Dunwoody, Brookhaven, Tucker, Stonecrest, or the county's other cities, which set their own rules). A Type I home occupation has no customer contact and needs only administrative approval from the director of planning. Any home business with customer contact is Type II and requires a special land use permit, with added conditions to protect the neighborhood. All home occupations must stay entirely indoors, show no exterior evidence, use no more than 25% of the dwelling or 500 square feet, employ only residents, and use no more than one business vehicle.
Violations & Fines
Operating a home occupation without the required Type I administrative approval or Type II special land use permit, or exceeding the space, employee, or exterior-evidence limits, is a zoning code violation subject to county enforcement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to run a home business in unincorporated DeKalb County?
How much of my house can I use for a home business?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in DeKalb County
How DeKalb County compares: Easiest Cities to Run a Home Business·Compare DeKalb County to another location·View the Georgia home business overview
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