South Fulton, GA Home Business: Zoning Restrictions (2026)

Home-based businesses in South Fulton are regulated as "Home Occupations" under Sec. 303.11 of the city's Zoning Ordinance. Key standards include: "A home occupation's operation and employees are limited to members of the resident family only" (Sec. 303.11(a)); "The smaller of 25% or 750 square feet of the gross floor area of a dwelling unit may be used for activities devoted to the home occupation" (303.11(b)); and "Accessory buildings and structures may not be used for the home occupation" (303.11(c)) — meaning the business must operate inside the home, not in a detached garage or shed. There may be "no storage, display or activity associated with the home occupation visible outside the structure" (303.11(e)). Several uses are expressly prohibited: "auto repair or similar operations, restaurants, keeping of animals, funeral homes, retail or wholesale shops, motel type establishments, taxi services," or any use incompatible with the ordinance's intent (303.11(f)). No more than two clients or patrons may be on the premises at one time (six for a family day care home) (303.11(i)), and the business may not generate offensive traffic, sound, smell, vibration, light, or dust (303.11(h)). Transporting goods by truck is prohibited and any business-related vehicles must be parked off-street within the residential driveway (303.11(k)). The use must not create a nuisance (303.11(m)). The Zoning Department, not the tax office, determines whether a proposed home business is allowed.