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Sedona, AZ Home Business: Zoning & Home Occupation Permits (2026)

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

Key Facts

Floor area cap
25% of gross floor area on site
Employees
Residents of the dwelling only
Hours
7 a.m. to 10 p.m. for audible/visible activity
License
City business license required (SCC 5.05)
Parking
Must be paved; no grass/turf parking

Summary

Sedona lets home businesses operate from a house or accessory building only if the operator actually lives there, caps home-occupation floor space at 25 percent of the site's gross floor area, bars outside employees, and limits audible or visible activity to 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

A home occupation shall be conducted in a dwelling or accessory building on a property that is also used as a primary residence by the proprietor of the home occupation. ... There shall be no rental of residential space for commercial uses by others. ... The total usable floor space area dedicated to home occupation uses in any principal dwelling or accessory structure shall not exceed 25 percent of the gross floor area on the site. ... No one other than a resident of the dwelling shall be employed in the use or activities of a home occupation. ... A business license from the City shall be obtained, as per Chapter 5.05 SCC. ... Hours of operation shall be limited to no earlier than 7:00 a.m. and no later than 10:00 p.m. for any activity which is visible or audible off the property.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Initiative Ordinance 2026-01, approved by voters at the July 21, 2026 election).

Full Breakdown

D(4), and the standard starts with residency: the business has to be run out of a dwelling or accessory building on a property where the proprietor actually lives, and residential space cannot be rented out to someone else for a commercial use. The floor space dedicated to the home occupation, whether inside the house or an accessory structure, cannot exceed 25 percent of the gross floor area on the site, and the code bars any exterior sign of commercial activity, no change to the structure's appearance through color, materials, lighting or equipment that would make it read as anything but a residence.

Staffing is limited to residents of the dwelling; the code flatly states no one other than a resident may be employed in the home occupation's activities. Operationally, the business cannot emit smoke, odor, or liquid or solid waste, and it cannot create radio, television, computer or power line interference or generate noise audible beyond the site's boundaries. Traffic and parking are addressed directly too: the use cannot generate more pedestrian or vehicle traffic than is typical for the zoning district, all parking has to stay on the property or within its frontage, and any vehicle used for the business that is visible from the street or a neighboring property has to be parked on a paved, compacted or otherwise stabilized driveway, never on grass or turf. Utility and community-facility use has to stay within what is typical for a residential property. m.

Violations & Fines

Operating a home occupation without a business license, exceeding the 25 percent floor-area cap, employing a non-resident, or running noise or activity outside the 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. window violates SLDC Section 3.4.D(4) and is enforceable under Section 1.7. The City can pursue a Class 1 misdemeanor or issue a civil citation to Sedona Magistrate Court, and can revoke the business license or require the use to cease as a public nuisance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hire an employee for my Sedona home business?
No, unless that person also lives in the dwelling. SLDC Section 3.4.D(4)(c)(1) states no one other than a resident of the dwelling may be employed in the home occupation's activities, so outside staff working on-site is not allowed under this standard.
How much of my house can I use for a home business?
Up to 25 percent of the gross floor area on the site, counting both the principal dwelling and any accessory structure used for the business. SLDC Section 3.4.D(4)(b)(1) sets that cap, and the code also bars any exterior change that would make the property look non-residential.
What hours can my home business be active in Sedona?
Any activity that is visible or audible off the property is limited to between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. under SLDC Section 3.4.D(4)(c)(9). Work that produces no visible or audible signature outside the property isn't bound by that window, but a business license is still required regardless of hours.

Sources & Official References

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