Ottawa County does not zone; your city or township does. In Holland Charter Township, a home occupation must be clearly incidental and subordinate to residential use, and no more than 20 percent of the dwelling's floor area may be used for it. A no-customer, no-employee home office is fully exempt.
Under the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act (MCL 125.3201), Michigan cities and townships — not counties — regulate home occupations. Holland Charter Township Zoning Ordinance Section 9.13 sets typical West Michigan standards: the home occupation must be incidental and subordinate to residential use, capped at 20 percent of the dwelling's floor area, with no outdoor storage and no equipment producing noise, vibration, glare, fumes, or odors detectable off the premises. A pure home office with no on-site sales, employees, or client visits is not subject to these standards. The City of Holland regulates 'home-based businesses' (Type 1 and Type 2) separately under its Unified Development Ordinance.
A home occupation violating the standards can lose its zoning approval and face municipal enforcement; prohibited uses (auto repair, kennels, restaurants, welding) are barred outright.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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