Home Occupation / Business

Generally, businesses are not allowed to operate at a residential property. However, the City of Cedar Rapids allows a very limited range of service related activities to operate from a home when certain criteria are met. Regulating home businesses is the City's way of making sure the residential character of the neighborhood where the home occupation is operating is not adversely affected.

Prohibited Home Occupations / Businesses:

• Barber, beauty, tanning, or nail shops
• Automobile oriented businesses
• Taxicab or limousine businesses
• Renting of rooms by a resident owner to more than two roomers
• Adult entertainment establishments

• Business must be run by yourself (or only with other members of your immediate family living in your home) with no outside employees.
• Business must be operated entirely within the living area of your home or an accessory structure (excluding the yard).
• No more than 20% of the floor area of your home and no more than 500 square feet of the floor area of an accessory building may be used for your business.
• No alteration may be made that changes the character and appearance as a residential building.
• Not more than one vehicle at a time and a limited number in one day are permitted in conjunction with the business.
• Only mechanical, electrical, or other equipment normally found in homes may be used.
• No more than one customer at any one time may be present.
• No signage other than one unlighted sign not in excess of two square feet in area stating only your name and occupation.
• Business must not create any noise, odor, vibration, smoke, or other objectionable emissions, or traffic nuisances to your neighbors.
• No product sales may occur on the premises.
• Business must be able to be operated in your residence without being required to make any commercial building code improvements.

Don't Meet All of the Requirements?
A zoning inspector may be able to assist you in modifying your plans so that you would be able to have a home business.

Contact the Building and Zoning Department