Home Occupations

Urbana residents may apply to run a business from their home through the Home Occupation application process.

To obtain an application click here.

The following information is provided to the applicant in order to clarify the requirements necessary to operate a home occupation in a residential zoning district in the City of Urbana, Illinois, and contains relevant excerpts from the Urbana Zoning Ordinance, Section V-13 Regulation of Home Occupation.

Home Occupation: Any occupation or profession for gain or support, carried on as an accessory use in an dwelling unit by a member of the immediate family residing on the premises, which meets the following limitations:

A.  Without a Certificate of Occupancy, any activity that meets (but not exceed) the following criteria:

1.      There are no persons, other than immediate members of the family residing in the dwelling unit, engaged therein;

2.      There are no signs on the premises identifying the home occupation;

3.      The occupation is wholly operated and contained within the dwelling;

4.      No materials or equipment are stored outside the dwelling unit;

5.      No more than two (2) commercial or business vehicles used in conjunction with the home occupation may be on the premises at any one time and no more than five (5) vehicle visits per day;

6.      No more than two (2) commercial or business vehicles used in conjunction with the home occupation maybe parked on the premises or on an adjacent street;

7.      No equipment, mechanical or electronic, is used except equipment which is incidental to the occupation, and which does not or will not create objectionable noise, odors, or electronic impulses, or otherwise create a nuisance discernible beyond the property lines of the premises.

B.  Any activity which exceeds any of the criteria set forth under paragraph A, above, shall require approval by the Zoning Administrator and require the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy, and furthermore shall be limited to the following restrictions and conditions:

1.      No more than (1) person, other than members of the immediate family residing in the dwelling unit, is engaged therein;

2.      Two (2) off-street parking spaces must be provided on -premise as approved by the Zoning Administrator.  Driveways may qualify in meeting this requirement;

3.      No equipment, mechanical or electronic, is used except equipment which is incidental to the occupation, and which does not or will not crate objectionable noise, odors, or electronic impulses, or otherwise create a nuisance discernible beyond the property lines of the premises;

4.      There is no activity, construction, or display which would indicate from the exterior of the building or dwelling unit that the building or dwelling unit is being used for any purpose other than residential, except as provided in point 5, below;

5.      There are no other signs other than a name plate, not more than one (1) square foot in area, only permitted as a wall-mounted sign and not internally illuminated;

6.      Storage of materials and use of equipment in an accessory building is limited to two hundred (200) square feet;

7.      No storage outside the dwelling unit is permitted, except in accordance with point 6 above;

8.      The occupation does not or will not constitute a violation of any nuisance code;

9.      No more than two (2) customers or clients may be on the premises at any one time;

10.     There is no exterior storage of vehicles other than those owned by members of the Immediate family residing on the premises;