Union, NY Home Business: Zoning & Home Occupation Permits (2026)

Section 300-40.9, amended 6-4-2025 by L.L. No. 5-2025, sets the standards for home occupations. The chapter defines a home occupation as an occupation or profession of a service character conducted within a dwelling by a member of the residing family, clearly secondary to the dwelling use, with no exterior evidence of it.

The listed occupations include lawyer, accountant, author, doctor, engineer, dentist, architect, consultant, realtor, insurance agent or broker, counselor, artist, teacher, tutor, hairdresser, cosmetology, barber, tailor, dressmaker, repairperson and catering, and the list is not limited to those. Two carve-outs apply: repair of motor vehicles is excluded, and catering excludes all forms of outdoor food preparation including smokers and barbecues. Catering requires a food permit from the Broome County Department of Health.

Space and staffing: the occupation is carried on wholly within the principal building and covers no more than 1/3 of the floor area. Not more than one person outside the family can be employed in it.

Exterior and neighbors: there can be no exterior display or storage of materials and no other exterior indication of the occupation or variation from the residential character of the principal building, apart from a permitted sign placed under Article 52. No offensive noise, vibration, smoke, dust, odors, heat, light or glare can be produced, and the occupation cannot change the character of the neighborhood or cause unreasonable disturbances.

Business model: using the property as a drop-off point for merchandise not produced by the occupation is prohibited, and so is selling merchandise not produced by it. The occupation cannot involve wholesaling or the storage of automobiles. Parking follows Article 51, with a maximum of two off-street spaces. The property must at all times remain a residential property occupied by the person or persons owning the business.