Rockdale County, GA Home Business: Zoning & Home Occupation Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Floor area cap
- 25 percent of one floor's square footage
- Employees allowed
- Only residents of the dwelling
- Signage
- None allowed for the home occupation
- Vehicles
- One passenger vehicle, under 3/4-ton capacity
- Excluded uses
- No medical or mental health services
Summary
Unincorporated Rockdale County allows a home occupation only as a use clearly incidental to a dwelling's residential purpose: it must be run solely by residents of that home, cannot use more than 25 percent of one floor's square footage, and permits no signage, employees, group instruction, or exterior sign of business activity.
(dd)Home occupation. A home occupation, as defined by the UDO shall be governed by the following requirements:(1)Only residents of the dwelling containing the home occupation may be engaged in the home occupation. The home occupation shall not involve group assembly or group instruction on the premises. ... (4)Use of the building for the purpose of a home occupation shall not exceed 25 percent of the square footage of one floor of the principal building.(5)No internal or external alterations inconsistent with the residential use of the building shall be permitted. No exterior evidence of the conduct of a home occupation shall be allowed. No signage of any kind for the home occupation is allowed. ... (10)Pursuant to the above requirements, a home occupation includes, but is not limited to, activities such as the following:a.Art studio.b.Dressmaking.c.Teaching of any kind, provided instruction is limited to not more than two pupils at a time.d.However, a home occupation shall not be interpreted to include any occupation or profession providing medical or mental health services including, but not limited to, physician, veterinarian, dentist, psychiatrist or psychologist.
Full Breakdown
Section 106-1 of the Code defines a home occupation as 'an occupation customarily carried on by an occupant of a dwelling unit as a secondary use which is clearly incidental to the use of the dwelling unit for residential purposes,' operated under Sections 218-1 and 218-13. ' No accessory buildings or outside storage may be used, and only one passenger vehicle under three-quarters-ton carrying capacity may be used in connection with the occupation, with no more than one such vehicle parked overnight and one additional vehicle (up to two tons gross weight) parked during the day.
No products may be produced, stored, or sold on the premises except bona fide agricultural products grown on-site in the A-R and W-P districts, or cottage foods produced under the county's cottage food standards where the table of permitted uses allows it. Permitted examples listed in the ordinance include an art studio, dressmaking, and teaching limited to no more than two pupils at a time, but the ordinance expressly excludes any occupation providing medical or mental health services, including a physician, veterinarian, dentist, psychiatrist, or psychologist.
Violations & Fines
Operating a home occupation that employs non-residents, uses more than 25 percent of a floor's square footage, displays signage, stores products beyond the cottage-food or on-site agricultural exceptions, or otherwise breaks Section 218-13(dd) is a UDO violation under Section 202-9. The county may cite the resident to the Rockdale County Magistrate Court, and Section 1-11's general penalty allows a fine up to $1,000.00, up to 60 days imprisonment, or both, with each day a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I hire employees for a home business in unincorporated Rockdale County?
How much of my house can a home occupation use?
Are doctors or therapists allowed to run a home-based practice?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Rockdale County
How Rockdale County compares: Easiest Cities to Run a Home Business·Compare Rockdale County to another location·View the Georgia home business overview
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