Home Occupation Ordinance

The Home Occupation Ordinance was established to allow homeowners the use of their primary residence as a place of business.  As an artist, the Ordinance may or may not apply to you depending on how you use your space.   The Ordinance applies to you if you are using your home as the primary place of business and have a business license.

Key things you should know about the Ordinance include:

• The Home Occupation Ordinance does not apply to artists’ in-home workspaces. However, the Ordinance may apply to some art-related businesses, such as consulting or graphic design, if the premises are being used as a commercial place of business with customers on the property, set business hours, regular deliveries, etc.
  
• The production and creation of original works of art are permitted on the property and do not require a business license.
  
• The operation of a dance school is not permitted on the property.
  
• Welding and machine shops are not permitted.  This means if your welding or shop activities are in a production, assembly-line format they are not allowed.  However, small scale and occasional use are allowed.
  
• Your business cannot produce or emit any noise, vibration, smoke, dust or other particulate or odorous matter, heat, humidity or glare that unreasonably interferes with your neighbors. 
  

• Signage that indicates you are operating a business out of your home is prohibited.
  
• Deliveries of bulk items are limited to once a day.  This does not include deliveries made by the United States mail service, express mail, U.P.S., Fed Ex and messenger services. Bulk delivery can only occur between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. For example, if you are having a large supply of wood delivered, it must arrive between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
  
• Deliveries by tractor-trailers are prohibited.
  
• More than 2 clients or patrons on the premises at any one time are not permitted under the use of the Home Occupation Ordinance.  More than 10 clients or patrons during a 24 hr. period is not allowed.

• The primary use of your space must be for residential purposes.
  
• The business cannot occupy more than 10% of the floor space for a single-family residence or 15% of the floor space of any unit in a multi-unit building.  In a single-family dwelling the business cannot permanently occupy more than 300 square feet of residential space.
  
• You cannot use the garage or any other outbuildings as the base operation of the business.

• Your business must comply with the Chicago Zoning Ordinance and Building Codes.