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

Roanoke County Code § 30-82-3 recognizes small-scale commercial activity inside a residential dwelling as a home occupation, but only if it stays subordinate and incidental to the home's residential use and doesn't give the operator an unfair edge over a business in a commercial zone, per § 30-82-3(A). The ordinance splits home occupations into two tiers. A Type I home occupation, under § 30-82-3(C)1, is capped at 10 percent of the dwelling's finished floor area or 250 square feet, whichever is greater, and must run entirely inside the principal residence or an accessory structure with no non-resident employees.

A Type II home occupation, under § 30-82-3(D)1, can grow to 25 percent of the finished floor area or 500 square feet, whichever is greater, and § 30-82-3(D)2 lets it employ one person who isn't a permanent resident of the dwelling. Every home occupation, Type I or II, must obtain a Roanoke County Business License from the Commissioner of the Revenue before operating, under § 30-82-3(B)12, and neither tier may store toxic, explosive, flammable or hazardous materials on site or sell firearms, per § 30-82-3(B)3.

Pet grooming and pet breeding get their own carve-outs under § 30-82-3(B)10 and (B)11: grooming is capped at one customer and eight animals a day, and breeding at 20 animals sold per year.