Woodbury, MN Home Business: Zoning & Home Occupation Permits (2026)

Sec. 24-263 sets the standards Woodbury home businesses must meet to operate in a residential district. Space and scope are tightly bounded: activities "shall be carried on entirely within the dwelling unit," with "no more than one room in (or more than 25 percent of) the principal structure" devoted to the business, entered only through the dwelling's own entrance since "there shall be no separate entrance into the business area." The home can't be altered for the business: no internal or external alterations or non-customary construction features, and no mechanical equipment "not customarily found in the home." Garage use is capped separately: up to 25 percent of a detached or attached garage may store equipment or materials used off-site.

Visibility is banned outright: "there shall be no exterior indication of the home business," exterior signs are prohibited, no exterior display is allowed, and exterior storage of business equipment or materials is prohibited. Staffing is limited to residents: "employees, sub-contractors, work associates, or persons other than those residing at the premises are prohibited from being employed or performing work at the home." Traffic and hours are capped under subsection (c): deliveries or pick-ups are limited to two trips per day, customer hours run "between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.," and customer trips can't exceed five per day.

Subsection (e) bans specific business types outright, including retail sales, manufacturing, any repair shop, vehicle sales (except incidental sales of up to three personal vehicles per 12-month period), businesses using gun powder or explosives, massage, salons, barber shops, tattoo and body piercing operations, and equipment or supply rental.