El Paso County, CO Home Business: Zoning & Home Occupation Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Categories
- residential & rural home occupation
- Permit needed
- site plan/home occupation permit
- Exempt
- child-run lemonade stands, mowing
- Never allowed
- medical marijuana land use
Summary
El Paso County splits home businesses into residential and rural home occupations, each with its own standards, and requires a site plan or home occupation permit to confirm compliance.
There are two categories of home occupations: residential home occupation and rural home occupation. Separate standards and criteria apply to each category. ... A site plan and/or home occupation permit may be necessary to verify compliance with the home occupation standards.
Full Breakdown
El Paso County's Land Development Code recognizes two kinds of home businesses, residential home occupations and rural home occupations, each governed by its own set of standards under § 5.2.29. Small-scale activities run by a child, like a lemonade stand or lawn mowing service, are exempt, but a medical marijuana operation can never qualify as a home occupation under any circumstance. To confirm a business meets the applicable standards, the county requires a site plan and/or a home occupation permit before operation begins.
Violations & Fines
Operating a home occupation without the required site plan or permit, or running an excluded use like a medical marijuana business, is a code violation subject to enforcement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to run a business from my El Paso County home?
Are all home businesses treated the same?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in El Paso County
How El Paso County compares: Easiest Cities to Run a Home Business·Compare El Paso County to another location·View the Colorado home business overview
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