Home Occupations and Live-Work Businesses in the City of Raleigh
The City of Raleigh Unified Development Ordinance allows residents to operate a business from their home under two distinct categories: Home Occupations and Live-Work units. Home Occupations are restricted to internal activities with no clients or non-resident employees permitted on-site, while Live-Work units allow for up to two non-resident employees and up to five customers at any one time [Sec. 6.7.3.D, Sec. 6.7.3.E]. Both options are subject to strict standards regarding floor area, noise, and vehicle usage to preserve the residential character of Raleigh neighborhoods.
Home Occupation Standards
A Home Occupation is defined as a service or product-based activity conducted wholly within a residential dwelling in the City of Raleigh [Sec. 6.7.3.D]. Because Home Occupations are considered to have a de minimis impact on the community, they are exempt from requiring a miscellaneous zoning permit [Sec. 10.2.7.A.3].
Operational Requirements for Home Occupations
- Personnel: Only residents of the dwelling may be involved in the business; no non-resident employees are allowed [Sec. 6.7.3.D.1].
- Visitation: Customers, clients, or patients are strictly prohibited from visiting the premises [Sec. 6.7.3.D.1].
- Visibility: There must be no change to the outside appearance of the building or visible evidence of the business, including the display of goods or services [Sec. 6.7.3.D.2, Sec. 6.7.3.D.5].
- Storage: All business storage must be located within the principal dwelling or a fully enclosed accessory structure. Outdoor storage of materials or equipment is prohibited [Sec. 6.7.3.D.4].
- Noise: The business must comply with all City of Raleigh noise regulations. If a noise violation occurs, the home-occupation permit can be revoked, and a new one cannot be issued for 365 days [Sec. 6.7.3.D.6].
Live-Work Units
A Live-Work unit is a commercial use contained within or attached to a residential structure (or a legally conforming accessory structure/ADU) that allows for more active business operations, including employee and customer visits [Sec. 6.7.3.E].
Permitted Uses for Live-Work Units
The City of Raleigh limits Live-Work activities to the following specific uses [Sec. 6.7.3.E.7]:
- Office.
- Music, art, or dance studios and classrooms.
- Sports academies.
- Personal services (excluding animal care, dry cleaning, and funeral-related services).
- Apparel and textile clothing manufacturing.
- Production of toys and artwork.
- Graphic design.
- Assembly and repair of clocks, jewelry, computers, or musical instruments.
- Sale of items produced on-site (retail is only allowed in conjunction with production or repair of the items sold).
Operational Requirements for Live-Work Units
- Residency: At least one person involved in the business must occupy the structure as their primary residence [Sec. 6.7.3.E.1].
- Personnel: The unit may employ up to two individuals who do not live on the premises [Sec. 6.7.3.E.2].
- Customer Limits: No more than five customers are permitted on the premises at any one time [Sec. 6.7.3.E.6].
- Prohibitions: Outdoor seating, drive-thrus, and outdoor display areas are strictly prohibited for Live-Work units in the City of Raleigh [Sec. 6.7.3.E.14-15, Sec. 6.7.3.E.19].
Technical Standards Comparison
The following table outlines the specific physical and temporal constraints for running a business from a residence in the City of Raleigh.
| Standard | Home Occupation | Live-Work Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Max Floor Area | 25% of the livable portion of the dwelling [Sec. 6.7.3.D.3] | 50% of the first floor (Detached/Attached) or 1,000 sq ft (Apartment) [Sec. 6.7.3.E.10-11] |
| Max Total Structure Size | N/A | 3,000 sq ft total (combined residential and non-residential) [Sec. 6.7.3.E.10.b] |
| Hours of Operation | No restriction (no visitors) | 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM [Sec. 6.7.3.E.13] |
| Allowed On-Site Signage | Prohibited | One unlit building sign, max 6 sq ft [Sec. 6.7.3.E.4] |
| Max Business Vehicles | 1 vehicle [Sec. 6.7.3.D.7] | 1 vehicle [Sec. 6.7.3.E.5] |
| Vehicle Weight Limit | 6,000 lbs [Sec. 6.7.3.D.7] | 6,000 lbs [Sec. 6.7.3.E.5] |
| Vehicle Advertising | Prohibited on vehicle [Sec. 6.7.3.D.7] | Prohibited on vehicle [Sec. 6.7.3.E.5] |
Parking and Vehicles
For both Home Occupations and Live-Work units, the City of Raleigh restricts business vehicles to those weighing 6,000 lbs or less. This excludes the use of buses, large trucks, or trailers. Business-related vehicles must be parked or stored on the premises, and no advertising or reference to the home business may be displayed on the vehicle [Sec. 6.7.3.D.7, Sec. 6.7.3.E.5]. No additional vehicular or bicycle parking is required for Live-Work units [Sec. 6.7.3.E.6].
Sections Cited
- Sec. 6.7.1. In General
- Sec. 6.7.3.D. Home Occupation
- Sec. 6.7.3.E. Live-Work
- Sec. 10.2.7.A. Purpose and Applicability (Miscellaneous Zoning Permits)