In unincorporated Shelby County, a home occupation is allowed as an accessory use under the Memphis and Shelby County Unified Development Code (UDC) Section 2.7.4, so long as it stays clearly incidental to residential use and does not change the neighborhood's residential character.
UDC Section 2.7.4 permits a home occupation as an accessory use in residential districts without further approval if it meets the standards: the use must be clearly incidental and subordinate to residential use; no change in the building's outside appearance; no business storage outside the dwelling (with a narrow screened landscaping exception on 4-acre-plus lots); no equipment creating excessive noise, vibration, glare, fumes, odors, or electrical interference; and business operation inside may not exceed 25% of the first-floor area. Many uses are expressly prohibited, including vehicle repair, restaurants, medical or dental labs, child care centers, kennels, and machine shops. The UDC is the zoning code for the City of Memphis and unincorporated Shelby County.
A home occupation that exceeds these standards, or is a prohibited use, loses its accessory-use status and becomes a zoning violation subject to enforcement by the Office of Planning and Development / Code Enforcement, including citations and orders to cease.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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The Code of Shelby County authorizes the county to compel owners of unincorporated property to cut rank weeds, grasses, and underbrush deemed a health or tra...
See how Shelby County's zoning restrictions rules stack up against other locations.
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