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Home Business in Texas (2026)

274 rules on the books across Texas, 88 cities and counties. Select a rule to read the full details.

Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions

Zoning & Home Occupation Permits

Which businesses you can run from home, the home-occupation permit or registration most cities require, and the conditions attached, floor area caps, signage bans, and prohibited uses.

Fulshear

Significant Restrictions

Home occupations in Fulshear are classified as conditional uses, so operators must get an administrator-approved…

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Mission

Significant Restrictions

Mission requires a conditional use permit for home occupations in residential zoning districts, with standards limiting…

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Parker

Significant Restrictions

Parker allows a home occupation as a by-right use in the Single-Family Residential district, but only under strict…

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Abilene

Some Restrictions

Abilene allows home-based businesses only where zoned for it and only under strict limits. The business must stay…

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Amarillo

Some Restrictions

Amarillo lets residents run a business from home only if it stays within tight bounds. Code of Ordinances Sec…

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Arlington

Some Restrictions

Arlington allows a home occupation as an accessory use to a residence in every residential zoning district, plus the…

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Austin

Some Restrictions

Austin allows a home business as an accessory use to any residence under Sec. 25-2-900, but it must run entirely inside…

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Baytown

Some Restrictions

Baytown allows a home-based business only as a no-impact home occupation, capped at 25 percent of the house's gross…

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Bryan

Some Restrictions

Bryan allows home occupations by right in residential districts, but bars retail sales, employees outside the…

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Carrollton

Some Restrictions

Carrollton lets residents run a home occupation in any residential zone without a separate permit, but City Code §…

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Cedar Park

Some Restrictions

Cedar Park allows home occupations as an accessory to a residential use, but the business must stay inside the dwelling…

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Celina

Some Restrictions

Celina lets residents run a home occupation without a permit, but the use must stay incidental to the home and follow a…

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Converse

Some Restrictions

Converse requires anyone running a business from their house to register it with the assistant city manager, keep it…

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Corpus Christi

Some Restrictions

Corpus Christi allows a home occupation in any zoning district by right, as long as it stays clearly incidental to the…

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Dallas

Some Restrictions

A Dallas home occupation is a business incidental to a residence and run by a resident, allowed as an accessory use in…

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Denton

Some Restrictions

Denton's Development Code permits a home-based business as an accessory use in every zoning district in the city, but…

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El Paso

Some Restrictions

El Paso allows a home occupation as an accessory use in residential zoning districts under City Code § 20.10.270, but…

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Fort Worth

Some Restrictions

Fort Worth allows home occupations by right inside a dwelling, garage or one accessory building under Zoning Ordinance…

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Frisco

Some Restrictions

Frisco allows home-based work only if it clears the conditions in Zoning Ordinance § 3.02.01(A)(24): the business stays…

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Garland

Some Restrictions

Garland zones every home-based business as a 'no-impact' use or bans it outright under GDC § 2.61: the business must…

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Harlingen

Some Restrictions

Harlingen allows home occupations by right in residential zones but caps them tightly: no hired help, no on-premises…

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Irving

Some Restrictions

Irving's Unified Development Code defines a customary home occupation as work carried on inside a residence without…

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Killeen

Some Restrictions

Killeen treats a qualifying home business as a by-right accessory use of a dwelling under Sec. 31-186(13)c, not a…

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Laredo

Some Restrictions

Laredo's Land Development Code splits home-based work into two zoning categories, Home Occupation "A" and "B", both…

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Leander

Some Restrictions

Leander allows home occupations by right in residential zones with no separate permit application, as long as the…

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Lubbock

Some Restrictions

Lubbock limits a residential home occupation to office and professional services, caps it at 25 percent of the home's…

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Midland

Some Restrictions

Midland limits how much of your home a home-based business can occupy, no more than 500 square feet or 10 percent of…

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New Braunfels

Some Restrictions

New Braunfels allows home-based businesses in residential zones only if they stay incidental to the home, capped at 30%…

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Odessa

Some Restrictions

Odessa allows home occupations in residential dwellings only if they stay incidental to the home and meet eight strict…

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Pearland

Some Restrictions

Pearland allows a customary home-based business as a Home Occupation under UDC Section 2.5.4.2, but only if it stays…

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Pflugerville

Some Restrictions

Home businesses are allowed by right in Pflugerville, but the Unified Development Code caps them hard: work stays…

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Pharr

Some Restrictions

Pharr treats home-based businesses as a conditional use requiring a use permit from the Planning and Zoning Commission…

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Plano

Some Restrictions

Plano allows a home occupation in any residence under Zoning Ordinance § 15.700, but Sec. 15.700.1 caps the business at…

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Richardson

Some Restrictions

Richardson allows a home occupation as an accessory use in a residential dwelling only if it stays incidental to living…

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Rowlett

Some Restrictions

Rowlett, Texas (Dallas/Rockwall County) allows home occupations by right in residential zones if the business stays…

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San Angelo

Some Restrictions

San Angelo lets residents run a home occupation by right in any dwelling, but Sec. 413 of the Zoning Ordinance caps it…

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San Antonio

Some Restrictions

San Antonio allows home occupations by right in residential zoning under UDC Sec. 35-378, provided the business stays…

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Sugar Land

Some Restrictions

Sugar Land allows home-based businesses only as an accessory use meeting nine strict conditions: no outside employees…

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Temple

Some Restrictions

Temple allows home-based businesses in any zoning district, but only inside the house itself, with no outside employees…

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Texarkana

Some Restrictions

Texarkana allows home occupations by right in residential zones, but the business must be run by a family member, use…

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Tyler

Some Restrictions

Tyler permits home occupations that stay incidental and subordinate to an owner-occupied residence. Up to 25 percent of…

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Victoria

Some Restrictions

Victoria limits home-based businesses to family members working from the residence, caps the workspace at 40% of…

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Waco

Some Restrictions

Waco allows a home occupation in any residential district only as a secondary use invisible from the street, one that…

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Galveston County

Few Restrictions

Texas counties cannot zone, so unincorporated Galveston County places no zoning limit on a home business. Inside a city…

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Signage Rules

Whether you can put up a sign for your home business, including size limits, placement rules, and which types of signs are allowed.

Carrollton

Heavy Restrictions

Carrollton bans signage for home-based businesses outright. City Code § 92.22(G) states "no signs shall be used to…

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Parker

Heavy Restrictions

Parker bans signage for home occupations outright. The only carve-out is for a state-approved or state-licensed…

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Pasadena

Heavy Restrictions

Pasadena prohibits signs and advertising that draw attention to home business properties in residential areas. Chapter…

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Richardson

Heavy Restrictions

A Richardson home occupation cannot advertise itself with any sign at all. Section 10(a)(6) bans interior and exterior…

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Rowlett

Heavy Restrictions

Rowlett bars any visible sign for a home-based business. City Code § 77-303(D)(1)(c)(5) prohibits advertising devices…

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Taylor

Heavy Restrictions

Section 5.9.3.7(3) of Taylor's Land Development Code bars any signs or other exterior visible evidence of a home…

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Texarkana

Heavy Restrictions

Texarkana's zoning code defines a lawful home occupation as one run without any sign advertising the business, so no…

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Austin

Significant Restrictions

A home occupation in Austin may display exactly one on-premise sign, and only if both the home and the sign front a…

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El Paso

Significant Restrictions

El Paso caps home occupation signage at one sign, one square foot, non-illuminated. Under City Code § 20.10.270.A.12, a…

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Harlingen

Significant Restrictions

Harlingen's zoning code flatly bars any on-premises sign advertising a home-based business, letting owners promote only…

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Leander

Significant Restrictions

A Leander home business cannot post any sign advertising itself, on the house or off it. Article IV, Section 8(d) of…

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Midland

Significant Restrictions

Midland bans exterior signage for home-based businesses outright. City Code § 11-1-4.04.A.12(d) states plainly that "no…

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Plano

Significant Restrictions

Plano's home-occupation rules flatly prohibit advertising signage. Zoning Ordinance § 15.700.1 bars any interior or…

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Abilene

Some Restrictions

A home-based business in Abilene can post exactly one identification sign per street frontage, capped at 2 square feet…

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Arlington

Some Restrictions

Arlington prohibits any exterior signage identifying a home occupation at a residential property. No signs, window…

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Baytown

Some Restrictions

Baytown prohibits any exterior signage for home-based businesses. The city's zoning ordinance requires that home…

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Bryan

Some Restrictions

Bryan caps home occupation signage at one non-illuminated, one-square-foot wall sign per property.

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Celina

Some Restrictions

Celina prohibits any home occupation signage visible from outside the dwelling, with no general exception for small…

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Conroe

Some Restrictions

Conroe Chapter 90 (Signs) governs all business signage. Sign permits are required for most permanent signs. Residential…

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Converse

Some Restrictions

Converse home occupation rules typically prohibit visible commercial signage at residential properties. Small unlit…

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Corpus Christi

Some Restrictions

A Corpus Christi home business is allowed exactly one sign, and it has to be non-illuminated, no larger than 1 square…

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Dallas

Some Restrictions

Dallas prohibits external signage for home occupations in residential districts. For occasional sales like garage…

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Denton

Some Restrictions

Denton Development Code prohibits all external signage for home occupations. No on-premises or off-premises signs…

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Fort Worth

Some Restrictions

Fort Worth Zoning Sec. 5.116.A prohibits exterior signs and any visible evidence of a home occupation from the street…

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Frisco

Some Restrictions

Frisco prohibits all exterior signage for home-based businesses. No window signs, yard signs, or vehicle lettering…

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Fulshear

Some Restrictions

Fulshear strictly regulates signage citywide, banning snipe signs and signs on public property, and limiting banners…

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Galveston County

Some Restrictions

The county cannot regulate signs by zoning. In the City of Galveston, a home based occupation is flatly barred from…

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Haltom City

Some Restrictions

Haltom City home occupations may display only a small non-illuminated wall sign up to 2 square feet. Freestanding…

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Katy

Some Restrictions

Katy regulates signs through Article 3.06 of Chapter 3, restricting moving and intermittent lights and prohibiting…

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Killeen

Some Restrictions

Killeen prohibits external business signage at home occupations. No commercial evidence visible from the street.

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Lubbock

Some Restrictions

Home occupations in Lubbock may not display exterior signs advertising the business in most residential zones. The home…

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McKinney

Some Restrictions

No business signage allowed on residential properties for home occupations in McKinney. Zoning Chapter 146 home…

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Mesquite

Some Restrictions

Mesquite strictly limits signage for home occupations to preserve residential neighborhood character. In most…

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Mission

Some Restrictions

Mission caps home occupation signs at 12 by 12 inches and bans illumination, one of the tightest sign allowances in the…

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Missouri City

Some Restrictions

Missouri City prohibits signs, displays, or other visible evidence of a home occupation from being placed on…

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New Braunfels

Some Restrictions

New Braunfels caps signage for a home-based business at one non-illuminated sign, physically attached to the house…

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North Richland Hills

Some Restrictions

North Richland Hills prohibits exterior signage for home occupations in residential zoning districts. No window signs…

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Odessa

Some Restrictions

Home-based businesses in Odessa are not permitted to display any exterior signage. The residential character of the…

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Pharr

Some Restrictions

Pharr caps home-occupation signage at 18 by 24 inches, non-illuminated, attached flush to the house, and bars any other…

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San Angelo

Some Restrictions

A San Angelo home business can post exactly one sign, and it has to be non-illuminated and no larger than two square…

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San Antonio

Some Restrictions

San Antonio exempts a home-based business from the sign permit process for exactly one on-premise sign, but the…

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Temple

Some Restrictions

Temple's UDC flatly bars any sign advertising a home-based business, so home occupations must operate without exterior…

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Tomball

Some Restrictions

Tomball prohibits exterior signage for home-based businesses in residential zoning districts. The home occupation must…

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Tyler

Some Restrictions

Tyler home occupations may not alter the home's exterior except for one permitted sign under Sec. 10-408. In…

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Victoria

Some Restrictions

Victoria caps home occupation signage at one small non-illuminated sign, and bans temporary signs outright for…

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Allen

Light Restrictions

Home occupations in Allen may not display any exterior signage, window advertising, or commercial vehicle graphics…

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Amarillo

Light Restrictions

Amarillo allows a small identifying sign for a home-based business, but not much more. Sec. 4-2-7(G) exempts…

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Beaumont

Light Restrictions

Beaumont prohibits external business signage at home occupations. No commercial evidence visible from the street.

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Brownsville

Light Restrictions

Brownsville's zoning code restricts business signs for home occupations in residential zones. No external evidence of…

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College Station

Light Restrictions

College Station prohibits external business signage at home occupations. No commercial evidence visible from the street.

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Flower Mound

Light Restrictions

No exterior signage permitted for home occupations. Business signs, window displays, banners, and illuminated signs are…

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Houston

Light Restrictions

Houston's Chapter 46 Sign Code regulates all signage within city limits. Home-based businesses generally cannot display…

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Humble

Light Restrictions

Humble prohibits exterior signage for home-based businesses in residential zones. Home occupations must not alter the…

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Keller

Light Restrictions

Signage for home occupations is generally prohibited in Keller residential districts. No signs advertising the business…

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Laredo

Light Restrictions

Home businesses in Laredo cannot display commercial signage visible from the street. The Land Development Code…

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Live Oak

Light Restrictions

Home occupations in Live Oak generally may not display exterior commercial signs. The residential appearance of the…

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Mansfield

Light Restrictions

Mansfield prohibits signs advertising home businesses in residential districts. The residential character standard…

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Mcallen

Light Restrictions

Mcallen prohibits external business signage at home occupations. No commercial evidence visible from the street.

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Pearland

Light Restrictions

Pearland strictly limits signage for home-based businesses, allowing only a small non-illuminated nameplate and…

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Rosenberg

Light Restrictions

Rosenberg regulates signs through its Unified Development Code, requiring permits for most signs and limiting size…

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Round Rock

Light Restrictions

Round Rock home occupation permits allow one small non-illuminated nameplate sign. Signs may not exceed 1 square foot…

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Stafford

Light Restrictions

Stafford regulates signs through Chapter 70 of its code. Signs in residential districts are tightly limited, and…

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Sugar Land

Light Restrictions

Home businesses in Sugar Land cannot post any sign advertising the operation on the property. The Land Development Code…

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Universal City

Light Restrictions

Universal City limits home occupation signage to a single small non illuminated sign on the residence, consistent with…

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Waco

Light Restrictions

Waco generally prohibits exterior signage for home-based businesses in residential areas. The home must maintain its…

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Bexar County

Few Restrictions

Bexar County has no countywide sign rules in unincorporated areas, but TxDOT controls signs near state highways and…

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Collin County

Few Restrictions

Collin County imposes no sign regulations on unincorporated residential home businesses. TXDOT regulates signs in…

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Dallas County

Few Restrictions

No county signage ordinance for home businesses. Texas counties cannot regulate signs through zoning. TX Transportation…

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Denton County

Few Restrictions

Denton County has no sign ordinance for unincorporated areas. No county permits required. TxDOT regulates signs visible…

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Harris County

Few Restrictions

Harris County has no sign ordinance for unincorporated areas. Business signs on residential property are unrestricted…

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La Porte

Few Restrictions

La Porte prohibits exterior signage for home occupations in residential zoning districts. Home businesses must not…

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Tarrant County

Few Restrictions

Most Tarrant County cities prohibit or heavily restrict home business signage. Fort Worth and Arlington ban commercial…

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Customer Traffic Restrictions

Limits on customers and clients visiting a home business, daily visit caps, one-at-a-time rules, employee restrictions, and parking conditions that keep a home occupation from becoming a storefront.

Bryan

Significant Restrictions

Bryan's zoning code allows home occupations only if no clients or customers come to the property, cutting off in-person…

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Mission

Significant Restrictions

In Mission, a home-based business needs a conditional use permit, and client traffic can't exceed 10% of a street's…

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Texarkana

Significant Restrictions

Texarkana bars home occupations from selling goods or services on-site and from generating increased traffic to the…

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Abilene

Some Restrictions

Abilene caps how much traffic a home-based business can send down a residential street: no more volume than a…

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Austin

Some Restrictions

Austin caps customer traffic to a home-based business at three vehicle trips a day under Sec. 25-2-900(E), and…

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Baytown

Some Restrictions

A permitted home occupation in Baytown cannot bring more on-site employees and clients than the residence's occupancy…

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Carrollton

Some Restrictions

Carrollton caps walk-in traffic at home businesses hard: City Code § 92.22(F) requires appointment-only sales and…

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Cedar Park

Some Restrictions

Cedar Park caps customer traffic at home-based businesses at three vehicle trips per day, and bars any storefront-style…

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Celina

Some Restrictions

Celina caps home-business traffic and parking at residential-neighborhood norms, requiring client and delivery parking…

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Converse

Some Restrictions

Converse home occupations may see clients or customers only inside the home or accessory building, and customer traffic…

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Corpus Christi

Some Restrictions

Home business clients and commercial deliveries in Corpus Christi are limited to 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and no more than…

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Dallas

Some Restrictions

Dallas caps a home-based business's foot and vehicle traffic under Development Code Sec. 51A-4.217(8). A home…

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Denton

Some Restrictions

Denton limits home-based businesses to four patrons on-site at once and bars customer visits after 8 p.m. under the…

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El Paso

Some Restrictions

El Paso caps every licensed home occupation to 'no more than normal household vehicular traffic' under City Code §…

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Farmersville

Some Restrictions

A Farmersville home business loses its 'home occupation' status, and the zoning protection that comes with it, the…

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Fort Worth

Some Restrictions

Fort Worth's home-occupation traffic standard bans anything beyond what a normal residential street would see: parking…

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Frisco

Some Restrictions

Frisco caps a home occupation at two patron or business vehicles present at once and bars extra traffic beyond what a…

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Garland

Some Restrictions

A Garland home-based business only qualifies as a lawful 'no-impact' operation under GDC § 2.61 if it never generates…

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Harlingen

Some Restrictions

A Harlingen home occupation must be run by a family member living in the house, with no outside employees, no…

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Killeen

Some Restrictions

Killeen lets home occupations operate as a right in R-1, SR-1, SR-2, A and A-R1 districts, but Sec. 31-186(13)c.5.(v)…

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Leander

Some Restrictions

Leander's Zoning Ordinance caps customer visits to a home-based business at three vehicles in any 24-hour period. The…

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Lubbock

Some Restrictions

Lubbock caps a home occupation to one vehicle parked on the property and no more than two on-street spaces at a time…

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Midland

Some Restrictions

A Midland home-based business can't generate client, patient or customer visits "as a daily routine matter," or traffic…

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New Braunfels

Some Restrictions

New Braunfels caps home-based businesses at ordinary residential traffic levels and bars on-site retail sales to…

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Parker

Some Restrictions

Parker caps how much traffic a home business can bring to a residential street. Section 156.37(M)(2)(g) bars traffic…

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Pearland

Some Restrictions

Pearland's home occupation rules cap the traffic a home-based business can generate. UDC Section 2.5.4.2(a)(5) bars a…

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Pharr

Some Restrictions

Pharr's zoning ordinance treats a home-based business as a conditional use and caps the traffic it generates: the…

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Plano

Some Restrictions

Plano caps the traffic a no-impact home-based business can generate at what's 'normally expected in the neighborhood,'…

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Richardson

Some Restrictions

A home occupation or no-impact home-based business in Richardson cannot generate more vehicle traffic than a…

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Rowlett

Some Restrictions

A Rowlett home occupation cannot generate customer or delivery traffic, congestion, noise or nuisance detectable off…

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San Angelo

Some Restrictions

San Angelo caps client and delivery traffic at a home business under Sec. 413 of the Zoning Ordinance: teaching…

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San Antonio

Some Restrictions

San Antonio bars any home occupation from generating on-street parking or substantially increasing traffic in the…

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Temple

Some Restrictions

Temple's UDC forbids home occupations that create increased traffic, ruling out regular client visits to a home-based…

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Tyler

Some Restrictions

Tyler home occupations may never be open to the public, so walk-in customers are prohibited. Deliveries are limited to…

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Victoria

Some Restrictions

Victoria's home occupation rules bar businesses run from a residence from generating traffic that creates a hazard or…

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Waco

Some Restrictions

A Waco home business can't host more patrons or employees at once than the International Residential Code's occupancy…

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Sugar Land

Light Restrictions

A home occupation loses its zoning protection if it creates parking or traffic congestion in the neighborhood. The Land…

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Cottage Food Operations

Rules for selling homemade food products from your kitchen, including what foods are allowed, labeling requirements, and annual sales limits.

Texas: statewide

StatewideFew Restrictions

Texas does not license cottage food at all. Health and Safety Code Section 437.0191(a) declares that a cottage food…

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Abilene

Few Restrictions

Abilene permits certain homemade food products to be sold directly to consumers under cottage food laws. Products must…

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Arlington

Few Restrictions

Arlington follows the Texas Cottage Food Law under Health and Safety Code Chapter 437, which allows individuals to sell…

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Austin

Few Restrictions

Austin allows cottage food production under Texas Health & Safety Code Chapter 437.001: no local permit, up to…

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Baytown

Few Restrictions

Texas cottage food law (Health and Safety Code Chapter 437) allows Baytown residents to sell homemade baked goods…

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Beaumont

Few Restrictions

Beaumont permits certain homemade food products to be sold directly to consumers under cottage food laws. Products must…

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Brownsville

Few Restrictions

Texas Health & Safety Code Chapter 437 lets Brownsville residents produce and sell most foods from a home kitchen…

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Carrollton

Few Restrictions

Texas law, not Carrollton ordinance, governs home-based cottage food sales, and it bars the city from regulating or…

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College Station

Few Restrictions

Texas's cottage food law lets a College Station resident produce and sell food from a home kitchen. Health and Safety…

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Converse

Few Restrictions

Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 437 allows Converse residents to operate cottage food businesses from home with…

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Corpus Christi

Few Restrictions

Texas H&S Code Chapter 437 allows Corpus Christi residents to sell homemade foods directly to consumers without a city…

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Dallas

Few Restrictions

Texas state law governing cottage food production operations (CFPOs) preempts local regulation. No city permits, fees…

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Deer Park

Few Restrictions

Cottage food operations are governed by Texas state law (Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 437) rather than local…

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Denton

Few Restrictions

Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 437 Subchapter B (Texas Cottage Food Law) allows home-based food production with…

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Denton County

Few Restrictions

TX HSC Chapter 437 allows home-based food sales up to $50,000/year without permits, inspections, or commercial…

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Fort Worth

Few Restrictions

Texas Cottage Food Law allows Fort Worth residents to sell non-potentially-hazardous homemade foods with no city…

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Frisco

Few Restrictions

Texas Cottage Food Law (Health and Safety Code 437) preempts local regulation. Frisco home bakers can sell…

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Galveston County

Few Restrictions

Texas cottage food law lets you sell many homemade foods with no permit if gross income stays at $50,000 or less…

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Garland

Few Restrictions

Garland follows the Texas Cottage Food Law (Health & Safety Code Ch. 437), allowing home production and direct sale of…

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Grand Prairie

Few Restrictions

Texas Cottage Food Law (TX Health & Safety Code Ch. 437) allows selling certain homemade foods directly to consumers…

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Grapevine

Few Restrictions

Texas Cottage Food Law (Health and Safety Code 437) lets residents sell home-baked and non-hazardous foods. Grapevine…

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Guadalupe County

Few Restrictions

Texas cottage food law lets you sell approved home-produced foods from a Guadalupe County home with no permit, no…

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Harris County

Few Restrictions

Texas Cottage Food Law (HSC §437.001) allows home-based food sales up to $75,000 per year without a food establishment…

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Hidalgo County

Few Restrictions

Cottage food producers in Hidalgo County follow the Texas Cottage Food Law, not a county ordinance. No permit or…

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Irving

Few Restrictions

Texas Cottage Food Law allows home-based food sales up to $75,000/year without a city food establishment permit…

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Killeen

Few Restrictions

Killeen permits certain homemade food products to be sold directly to consumers under cottage food laws. Products must…

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Laredo

Few Restrictions

Texas Cottage Food Law under Health and Safety Code Chapter 437 allows home-produced non-hazardous foods up to 50,000…

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League City

Few Restrictions

Texas Cottage Food Law (Health & Safety Code Ch. 437) allows home-based food sales up to $75,000 annually without a…

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Little Elm

Few Restrictions

TX HSC Ch. 437 allows home kitchen food sales up to $50,000/year without permits. TX LGC 250.008 bars cities from…

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Live Oak

Few Restrictions

Texas Cottage Food Law (H&S Code Ch. 437) lets Live Oak residents make and sell approved non-hazardous foods from home…

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Lubbock

Few Restrictions

Texas Cottage Food Law (Health and Safety Code Chapter 437) lets Lubbock residents sell non-hazardous homemade foods…

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Mansfield

Few Restrictions

Mansfield follows the Texas Cottage Food Law under Health and Safety Code Chapter 437, which preempts local rules. Home…

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Mcallen

Few Restrictions

Mcallen permits certain homemade food products to be sold directly to consumers under cottage food laws. Products must…

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McKinney

Few Restrictions

McKinney home-based cottage food operations protected under Texas Cottage Food Law (Health and Safety Code Chapter 437…

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Montgomery County

Few Restrictions

Texas Cottage Food Law (H&S Code §437.001) allows home-made non-potentially-hazardous food sold directly to consumers…

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Pasadena

Few Restrictions

Texas Cottage Food Law (HSC §437.001) allows home baking sales up to $75,000 per year without a food permit. Pasadena…

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Plano

Few Restrictions

Texas Cottage Food Law (TX H&S Code Ch. 437) allows Plano residents to prepare non-hazardous foods at home for direct…

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Richardson

Few Restrictions

Texas cottage food law allows home production of non-hazardous foods without local permits, but annual sales cannot…

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San Antonio

Few Restrictions

Cottage food operations are explicitly allowed in San Antonio's residential zones. UDC § 35-378(b)(4) exempts cottage…

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Sugar Land

Few Restrictions

Texas Cottage Food Law (Health & Safety Code Ch. 437) allows home-based food sales up to $75,000 annually without a…

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Tarrant County

Few Restrictions

Cottage food in Tarrant County is governed by Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 437. Home producers can sell…

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Tomball

Few Restrictions

Texas cottage food law (Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 437) allows Tomball residents to produce and sell certain…

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Williamson County

Few Restrictions

Texas cottage food law lets you sell approved home-produced foods from a Williamson County home with no permit…

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Home Daycare

Licensing and zoning rules for running a daycare out of your home, including the number of children allowed, outdoor play area requirements, and safety standards.

Texas: statewide

StatewideSome Restrictions

Texas Human Resources Code Chapter 42 governs licensing and registration of home-based child care statewide through…

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Celina

Significant Restrictions

Celina requires a specific use permit for in-home child care in most residential zoning districts, per the § 14.03.101…

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Converse

Significant Restrictions

Family day care homes aren't on Converse's by-right land-use list for single-family zones, so caring for three or more…

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Mission

Significant Restrictions

Running a family daycare from a Mission home is zoned as a home occupation, which requires a conditional use permit and…

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Pharr

Significant Restrictions

Pharr requires a conditional use permit before running a home child daycare in any residential zone, plus state…

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Texarkana

Significant Restrictions

A home daycare, nursery, or private school in a Texarkana single-family district isn't a by-right home occupation: it…

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Amarillo

Some Restrictions

Amarillo's zoning code treats a home day care as its own land use with hard numeric limits. Sec. 4-10-83(a)(42) caps a…

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Austin

Some Restrictions

Austin allows a home daycare as a by-right accessory use in any residential zoning district under Sec. 25-2-893(C)(9)…

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Baytown

Some Restrictions

Baytown allows child day care as an accessory use inside a single-family home under ULDC Sec. 2.35(E), but only if the…

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Brownsville

Some Restrictions

Brownsville permits a state-licensed child care home for up to six children by right in residential districts. Caring…

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Carrollton

Some Restrictions

Carrollton's Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance classifies registered and licensed child-care homes and listed family homes…

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Dallas

Some Restrictions

Home daycare operations in Dallas must comply with both Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) licensing…

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El Paso

Some Restrictions

El Paso lets home child care operate as a permitted home occupation under City Code § 20.10.140(A), but requires a…

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Farmersville

Some Restrictions

Farmersville's zoning code only regulates child care as a 'day care center' once a home or facility cares for seven or…

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Flower Mound

Some Restrictions

HHSC licenses home daycares: listed (up to 3 children), registered (up to 6), licensed (up to 12). Flower Mound zoning…

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Fulshear

Some Restrictions

Fulshear allows a family child-care home as an accessory residential use, but only if the operator lives on site and…

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Harlingen

Some Restrictions

Harlingen zoning caps home-based child or adult day care at six children or adults before it stops qualifying as a home…

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Harris County

Some Restrictions

Home daycares in Harris County must be licensed by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC). A Listed…

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Killeen

Some Restrictions

Killeen allows a home based child care facility in any residential zone under Sec. 31-703, but caps care to 6 children…

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Little Elm

Some Restrictions

Home daycares require HHSC licensing under 40 TAC Ch. 745 plus home occupation zoning compliance. Listed Homes: 1-3…

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Midland

Some Restrictions

Midland's zoning code splits home childcare into two tiers borrowed from Texas Human Resources Code § 42.002: a "Family…

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Odessa

Some Restrictions

Odessa's zoning code treats an in-home daycare as a home occupation, not a separate business use, so it's allowed by…

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Pasadena

Some Restrictions

Home daycares in Pasadena must be licensed by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC). A Home Occupation…

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Pearland

Some Restrictions

Pearland allows a state-registered family child care home to operate as a home occupation under UDC Section 2.5.4.4…

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Pflugerville

Some Restrictions

In-home child care in Pflugerville runs by right as a home occupation, an accessory use of the dwelling. The provider…

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Plano

Some Restrictions

Plano's zoning ordinance treats an in-home day care as a home occupation under Zoning Ordinance § 15.400, capping…

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Richardson

Some Restrictions

Richardson permits home-based child care through a registered family home permit capped at six children during school…

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San Angelo

Some Restrictions

San Angelo allows in-home childcare as a home occupation under Sec. 413.B.1.b of the Zoning Ordinance, but caps it at…

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Sugar Land

Some Restrictions

A Sugar Land homeowner can run a licensed child care home caring for up to six children by right in every residential…

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Taylor

Some Restrictions

Taylor's 2024 Land Development Code does not write a daycare-specific zoning rule; a home-based daycare is regulated as…

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Temple

Some Restrictions

Family home and group day care home child care facilities are permitted by right in residential zoning districts under…

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Tyler

Some Restrictions

A home daycare in Tyler needs a special use permit approved by the planning and zoning commission and city council…

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Victoria

Some Restrictions

Victoria requires a fire operation permit for any child day care run out of a residential building, with a $50…

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Waco

Some Restrictions

Waco's zoning code treats a small home daycare, a 'registered family home' caring for up to six children (12 counting…

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Abilene

Light Restrictions

Abilene allows licensed home daycare operations with limits on the number of children. State licensing and local zoning…

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Allen

Light Restrictions

Registered family home daycares (up to 6 children) allowed in Allen as accessory home occupation per Allen LDC Ch…

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Arlington

Light Restrictions

Arlington allows registered and licensed child-care homes in residential districts as home occupations under the…

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Beaumont

Light Restrictions

Beaumont allows licensed home daycare operations with limits on the number of children. State licensing and local…

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Bellaire

Light Restrictions

Home daycare operations in Bellaire are regulated at the state level by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission…

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Bexar County

Light Restrictions

Texas HHSC licenses all Bexar County home daycares with 4+ unrelated children. Registered homes allow up to 6; Licensed…

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Bryan

Light Restrictions

Bryan zoning treats in-home child care for six or fewer children as a permitted home occupation, letting residents run…

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College Station

Light Restrictions

Texas Human Resources Code Section 42.052 sets the state credential a College Station home daycare needs, and the…

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Collin County

Light Restrictions

Registered and licensed home daycares in unincorporated Collin County must comply with Texas HHSC minimum standards…

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Conroe

Light Restrictions

Home daycares in Conroe are regulated by Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) licensing, not by city…

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Corpus Christi

Light Restrictions

Home daycare in Corpus Christi requires state HHSC licensing under Human Resources Code Chapter 42 and must meet UDC…

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Deer Park

Light Restrictions

Home daycare operations in Deer Park are primarily regulated by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC)…

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Denton

Light Restrictions

Texas HHSC licenses home daycares in two tiers: listed family homes (1-3 unrelated children) require listing only, and…

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Fort Worth

Light Restrictions

Home daycares in Fort Worth must obtain a state HHSC permit and may operate under the home occupation standard in…

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Frisco

Light Restrictions

Frisco allows registered and licensed child-care homes in single-family zones as home occupations, subject to Texas…

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Galveston County

Light Restrictions

Home childcare is licensed by the State of Texas (HHSC), not by the county, which cannot zone. In the City of Galveston…

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Garland

Light Restrictions

In-home daycares in Garland require Texas HHSC licensing or registration plus compliance with home occupation zoning…

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Grand Prairie

Light Restrictions

Home daycares in Grand Prairie must comply with Texas HHSC licensing requirements. Registered homes serve up to 6…

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Guadalupe County

Light Restrictions

Caring for children for pay in a Guadalupe County home requires a listing, registration, or license from Texas Health…

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Haltom City

Light Restrictions

Haltom City permits registered family home daycares in residential zones as a home occupation. Providers must hold the…

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Houston

Light Restrictions

Home daycares in Houston are regulated by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHS) under Human Resources…

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Irving

Light Restrictions

Texas HHSC licenses home daycares. Registered homes may care for 1-6 children; listed homes 1-3 children from one…

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Katy

Light Restrictions

Katy's zoning ordinance separates commercial daycare from residential uses, classifying "Commercial Daycare…

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Keller

Light Restrictions

Keller permits registered home daycares as home occupations subject to Texas HHSC licensing. Operators must hold a…

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La Porte

Light Restrictions

Home daycare operations in La Porte are regulated primarily by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC). A…

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Laredo

Light Restrictions

Laredo home-based daycare operators must register with Texas HHSC as a Listed or Registered Family Home (up to 6…

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Live Oak

Light Restrictions

Live Oak permits registered home daycares in residential zones as home occupations. State licensing through Texas HHSC…

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Lubbock

Light Restrictions

Lubbock allows registered family home child care in residential zones under Texas HHSC rules. State registration or…

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Mansfield

Light Restrictions

Mansfield allows registered family home daycare under state license. TX HHSC regulates child care under 42 TAC 747…

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Mcallen

Light Restrictions

Mcallen allows licensed home daycare operations with limits on the number of children. State licensing and local zoning…

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McKinney

Light Restrictions

McKinney allows registered and licensed home child-care operations as a home occupation, subject to Texas HHSC…

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Mesquite

Light Restrictions

Home-based child care in Mesquite must be licensed or registered with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission…

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San Antonio

Light Restrictions

Home daycare operations in San Antonio are regulated by the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District (SAMHD) and must…

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Tarrant County

Light Restrictions

Home daycares in Tarrant County must be licensed or registered by Texas HHSC Child Care Regulation. Registered homes…

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Tomball

Light Restrictions

Home daycare operations in Tomball are regulated primarily by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC)…

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Travis County

Light Restrictions

Registered and licensed child-care homes in unincorporated Travis County operate under Texas HHSC rules (TX Human…

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Universal City

Light Restrictions

Home daycares in Universal City must register with Texas HHSC and comply with city home occupation standards, fire…

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Williamson County

Light Restrictions

Operating a child-care home for pay in Williamson County requires a license, registration, or listing from Texas Health…

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Dallas County

Few Restrictions

Dallas County does not license or zone home daycares: child-care regulation is handled by Texas DFPS / HHSC under Tex…

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Denton County

Few Restrictions

Home daycares are regulated by HHSC, not Denton County. Listed homes serve 1-3 children; licensed homes serve 4-12. No…

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Grapevine

Few Restrictions

Texas Human Resources Code 42 preempts home daycare zoning for registered and licensed family homes caring for 12 or…

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Hidalgo County

Few Restrictions

Home daycares in Hidalgo County are licensed by the state, not the county. Texas counties cannot zone. Texas Human…

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League City

Few Restrictions

Home-based childcare in League City follows Texas state licensing requirements through Health and Human Services. Small…

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New Braunfels

Few Restrictions

New Braunfels zoning lets you run a licensed family home child care out of your house by right in every residential…

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