Are you breaking the law simply by starting a home-based business? It is necessary to research your city's zoning laws or you could put your business at risk.
Here are some helpful hints
Zoning laws may be determined by your city or your county, depending on where you live. Find out which government body maintains your zoning laws and familiarize yourself with these regulations. That way, you will be prepared to deal with any issues that may arise.
If you plan on running a home-based business that will have no employees and no walk-up trade, the zoning question may never arise. Problems with zoning laws commonly occur with home-based businesses that deal with the public or that have non-family-member employees who work out of your home.
More often than not, it's complaints from neighbors that bring home-based businesses to the attention of zoning boards. If employees and customers are seen going in and out of your home, making noise, or taking up parking spaces that would normally be used by residents, you can expect to be brought up before the zoning commission.