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Lancaster · Building on your lot

Running a business from home in Lancaster

Home businesses may have 1 employee in an apartment or condominium, 2 in urban and 3 in rural residential zones.

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Key points

  • Home businesses: Home businesses may have 1 employee in an apartment or condominium, 2 in urban and 3 in rural residential zones.

Each rule below links to the section of the Lancaster Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Lancaster's code says

Lancaster code What Lancaster's code adds
Customer visits
  • Customers or clients may come only between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.
    § 17.08.200 · code text
    No customer or client may come to the premises except during the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Employees
  • No more than 1 employee.
    Applies: Home occupations in an apartment or condominium unit.
    § 17.08.200 · code text
    A maximum of one employee is allowed at the home occupation, if located in an apartment or condominium unit;
  • No more than 2 employees.
    Applies: Homes in an urban residential zone.
    § 17.08.200 · code text
    2 employees is allowed if the home is within an urban residential zone;
  • No more than 3 employees.
    Applies: Homes in a rural residential zone.
    § 17.08.200 · code text
    and 3 employees in rural residential zones.
Permit
  • A City of Lancaster business license (home-based business license) is required.
    § 17.08.200 · code text
    The home occupation shall be required to obtain a business license through the City of Lancaster.
Businesses not allowed
  • Ambulance service; animal training; body piercing; construction, preassembly and similar large woodworking operations; contractor and construction yards that cause or require outdoor storage; cosmetology services including barber and beauty shops; forensic testing; limousine, taxi or tow truck services; recreational vehicle rentals or automobile leasing; food or ice cream vending vehicles; other vehicles not normally incidental to a residential use where such motor vehicles would be parked or stored at the home occupation site; mechanical and electronic repair utilizing, maintaining, or storing more mechanical or electronic equipment on the premises than is common to a residence; on-site massage therapists; rental establishments; repair services related to automobiles, motorcycles, large household appliances, small engines, garden equipment, or other machinery; sales or production of drug paraphernalia; tattoo studio; taxidermy; manufacturing, sale, lease, or rental of firearms and/or ammunition; welding shop and/or metal fabrication; uses subject to Director's Review or a conditional use permit in the applicable zone; uses determined by the Director to be similar in nature
    § 17.08.200 · code text
    The following uses shall not be allowed as a home occupation:
  • Pet grooming
    Applies: Not prohibited in RR-1 and RR-2.5 zones if on appointment basis only
    § 17.08.200 · code text
    Pet grooming (not prohibited in RR-1 and RR-2.5 zones, if on appointment basis only);

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Can I run a business from my home in Lancaster?

Home businesses may have 1 employee in an apartment or condominium, 2 in urban and 3 in rural residential zones.

General information, not legal advice.

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Lancaster Municipal Code — full text