Easiest Cities to Run a Home Business (2026)

Top 25: Most Business-Friendly

Based on each city's home occupation zoning regulations. "Permissive" cities allow home businesses by right with minimal restrictions on customers, employees, and deliveries. "Strict" cities impose significant limits or require special permits.

1. 1

   Dallas County, TXFew RestrictionsNot required

   No county zoning for home businesses. Texas counties cannot zone, so home-based businesses operate without zoning restrictions. State business registration and tax requirements apply. No home occupation permit needed from the county.

2. 2

   Okaloosa County, FLFew Restrictions

   Okaloosa County cannot zone a home business out of a residential neighborhood. Florida's Home-Based Business Act, Fla. Stat. §559.955, bars the county and cities like Crestview and Destin from prohibiting or licensing a home-based business differently than any other business, so long as it stays secondary to the home.

3. 3

   Bexar County, TXFew Restrictions

   Unincorporated Bexar County has no zoning under TX Local Gov Code Ch 232, so home businesses are largely unrestricted outside city limits. San Antonio and suburbs enforce their own zoning.

4. 4

   Broward County, FLFew RestrictionsMaximum 2 on-site

   Broward County allows home occupations in residential zones with conditions preserving neighborhood character. Florida HB 1451 (2021) preempts local bans on home-based businesses, limiting what cities and counties can restrict.

5. 5

   Minneapolis, MNFew Restrictions1 non-resident max

   Minneapolis allows home occupations in all residential districts under Chapter 536 of the zoning code. The 2040 Comprehensive Plan expanded residential business opportunities, and most professional home offices, tutoring, art studios, and online businesses operate as permitted accessory uses without special approval.

6. 6

   Fargo, NDFew RestrictionsHousehold members only

   Fargo allows home-based businesses in residential zones under home occupation permits. North Dakota's business-friendly environment generally supports small home enterprises with reasonable conditions.

7. 7

   Orlando, FLFew Restrictions

   Florida HB 1451 (2021), codified primarily as FS 559.955, broadly preempts most local government regulation of home-based businesses. Orlando cannot prohibit operation of a home-based business, require special licenses, or impose substantially greater restrictions than apply to similar residential activity. Home occupations must remain accessory to residential use, employees must be limited to occupants plus up to 2 non-residents, and external impacts must be limited.

8. 8

   Tampa, FLFew Restrictions

   Tampa allows home-based businesses in all residential zones under City Code Chapter 27 as clearly incidental uses. Florida HB 403 (2021), codified at §559.955, broadly preempts local restrictions: municipalities cannot prohibit home businesses, charge special fees, or regulate beyond what a non-home-based business would face. Tampa still requires a Business Tax Receipt (BTR) and compliance with parking, signage, and activity-level limits that apply to neighbors.

9. 9

   Pinellas Park, FLFew RestrictionsTwo non-resident employees max

   Pinellas Park allows home-based businesses in residential zones consistent with Florida Statute 559.955, which preempts overly restrictive local rules. Activities must remain secondary to the dwelling's residential use and not alter neighborhood character.

10. 10

    Collin County, TXFew Restrictions

    Collin County cannot zone unincorporated areas under Texas Local Government Code. Home-based businesses operate freely in unincorporated areas subject only to state licensing (cottage food, contractor, professional licenses), deed restrictions, and HOAs. Cities within the county apply home-occupation zoning restrictions.

11. 11

    Palm Coast, FLFew Restrictions

    Palm Coast allows home occupations under Land Development Code Section 4.12, which sorts them into three classes and requires each to stay subordinate to the home. A development order is required, and a business tax receipt does not by itself approve the business.

12. 12

    Travis County, TXFew RestrictionsAustin 1 non-resident

    Unincorporated Travis County has no zoning and therefore no home-business restrictions beyond deed and HOA rules. Austin permits home occupations in all SF zones under Code 25-2-901: max 20 percent of dwelling floor area, resident-operated, no more than 1 non-resident employee, no retail sales on-site, no outdoor storage.

13. 13

    Denton County, TXFew RestrictionsNot required by county

    Texas counties cannot zone. Denton County has no zoning ordinance, so there are no use-based restrictions on home businesses in unincorporated areas.

14. 14

    Hernando County, FLFew Restrictions

    Hernando County cannot zone a home business out of a residential neighborhood. Florida's Home-Based Business Act, Fla. Stat. §559.955, bars the county and the City of Brooksville from prohibiting or licensing a home-based business differently than any other business, as long as it stays secondary to the home.

15. 15

    Manchester, NHFew Restrictions

    Manchester regulates home-based businesses through local zoning ordinances under RSA 674. New Hampshire's business-friendly environment and lack of income tax support home enterprises with minimal barriers.

16. 16

    Fort Myers, FLFew RestrictionsOne, besides immediate family

    Fort Myers allows a home business as an accessory use under section 118.3.4.C. You may employ one person from outside your household, the business may use no more than 15 percent of your living area, and outdoor storage is barred.

17. 17

    Spring Hill, FLFew RestrictionsTwo on site; remote workers unlimited

    Hernando County allows home occupations by right in residential, rural and agricultural-residential zoning categories, subject to performance standards on employees, storage, deliveries and appearance. Anything that misses those standards needs a special exception.

18. 18

    Kanawha County, WVFew Restrictions

    Kanawha County has not adopted countywide zoning, so no county home-occupation permit exists for unincorporated areas. In Charleston, St. Albans, South Charleston, Dunbar, and Nitro, each city's zoning ordinance decides whether you may run a business from home.

19. 19

    Santa Cruz County, CAFew RestrictionsLevel V conditional home occupation use permit for outdoor activity / exceeding limits

    Santa Cruz County Code Section 13.10.613 allows home occupations as a secondary use in residential zones. The activity must be carried on entirely within the dwelling or an allowed accessory structure and not affect the residential character of the property or neighborhood; outdoor activities require a Level V conditional home occupation use permit.

20. 20

    Guadalupe County, TXFew RestrictionsNot required

    Guadalupe County cannot zone, so a home business in unincorporated areas faces no county location, use, or floor-area limits. Only recorded deed restrictions or an HOA constrain what you run from your house. Inside Seguin, Schertz, or Cibolo, city zoning applies.

21. 21

    Hidalgo County, TXFew Restrictions

    Hidalgo County has no zoning authority, so home businesses in unincorporated areas are not restricted by county land-use rules. Texas counties generally cannot zone; only cities can impose home-occupation zoning inside their limits.

22. 22

    Williamson County, TXFew RestrictionsNot required

    Williamson County cannot zone. In unincorporated areas the county sets no home-occupation rules, so a home business faces no county location, use, or square-footage limits. Only recorded HOA or subdivision deed restrictions constrain what you run from your house.

23. 23

    Mobile County, ALFew RestrictionsNot required

    Mobile County cannot zone land use under Alabama's Dillon's Rule. In the unincorporated county a home business faces no county location, use, or square-footage limit. Only recorded HOA or subdivision deed restrictions decide what you may run from your house.

24. 24

    Indian River County, FLFew Restrictions

    Indian River County cannot zone a home business out of a residential street. Florida's Home-Based Business Act, Fla. Stat. §559.955, bars the county and cities like Vero Beach from prohibiting or licensing a home-based business differently than any other business, as long as it stays secondary to the home.

25. 25

    St. Johns County, FLFew Restrictions

    St. Johns County cannot zone a home business out of a residential neighborhood. Florida's Home-Based Business Act, Fla. Stat. §559.955, bars the county and cities like St. Augustine from prohibiting or licensing a home-based business differently than any other business, so long as the business stays secondary to the home.

State-by-State Breakdown

How each state leans overall, based on the cities and counties we have data for in that state.

Complete List

Frequently Asked Questions