Home-based businesses are broken down into Type I and Type II Home Occupations. 

Type I Home Occupations- No permit is needed. These businesses involve administrative support for the rendering of a service off-site in exchange for monetary fees or other remuneration. Type I businesses are allowed in all residential zoning districts.  Type I home occupations may occupy up to twenty (20) percent of the heated floor area of the residence, or five hundred (500) square feet, whichever is less and do not require a permit provided they comply with the following: 

• No customers or clients visit the home.
• No employees living outside the home are physically employed at the residence.
• No delivery of goods or materials to the home is required in connection with the business.
• No material goods or products are produced, stored, or manufactured at the residence. 

Type II Home Occupations- A permit is required. Type II businesses are allowed in all residential zoning districts and consist of home-based businesses that do not qualify as a Type I Home Occupation.  Prior to establishing a Type II home occupation, the operator shall obtain an  Accessory Use Permit (Home Occupation). Type II home occupation may occupy up to ten (10) percent of the heated floor area of the residence, or five hundred (500) square feet, whichever is less and must demonstrate compliance with the following:

• The principal person or persons providing the business or service resides in the dwelling on the premise.
• The business employs no more than one person who does not reside on the premises.
• Causes no change in the external appearance of the existing buildings on the property.
• Provides sufficient off-street parking (outside the front setback) for patrons of the home occupation in addition to the space or spaces required for the dwelling itself.
• Except in the Town Center, displays no advertising devices on the property. 
• Contains no outdoor display or storage associated with the home occupation.
• Wholesale or retail sales of goods do not occur on the premises.
• Does not create traffic or parking congestion, noise, vibration, odor, glare, or fumes.

A small in-home day care requires a different permit. Please see Citizen Guide to Small Home Day Care Permits.

Yes.

• The home occupation must cause no change in the external appearance of the existing buildings and structures on the property.
• There shall be no trailers or commercial vehicles, and no more than two (2) noncommercial vehicles associated with the home occupation.
• There is sufficient off-street parking for patrons of the home occupation, with the number of off-street parking spaces required for the home occupation to be provided and maintained in addition to the space or spaces required for the dwelling itself pursuant to Section 7.8 of this Ordinance.
• No additional parking areas other than driveways shall be located in the required front setback.
• There are no advertising devices on the property, or other signs of the home occupation, which are visible from outside the dwelling or accessory building. However, home occupation signs are allowed in the Town Center.
• The property contains no outdoor display or storage of goods or services that are associated with the home occupation.
• Wholesale or retail sales of goods do not occur on the premises.
• The home occupation does not create traffic or parking congestion, noise, vibration, odor, glare, fumes, or electrical or communications interference which can be detected by the normal senses off the premises, including visual or audible interference with radio or television reception.

Yes.

• Prior to receiving an Accessory Use Permit for businesses associated with food preparation or catering, the applicant must show proof of compliance with all County/State environmental and health regulations and NC State Building Code regulations.
• Baked goods are regulated by the NC Dept of Agriculture.  

Homeowner Associations (HOA’s) have private authority to regulate the structures and uses permitted within a neighborhood. Whether or not Cary permits them in your zoning district, if your HOA prohibits home occupations, you are not allowed to have them. Or if your HOA has more stringent rules, then you must follow those rules instead. You should contact your association or Management Company for that information.

Permits are processed through the Town’s electronic application system, IDT (live link).

1. Read this Citizen Guide to Home Occupation Permits to understand the standards and documents you will need on hand to apply.
2. Link to Town of Cary electronic permit application system.
3. Create user account in IDT
   • If you’re a first-time user of IDT, a user account will need to be created.To begin this process simply click the “Register” button located in the upper right-hand corner of the IDT home page
4. Complete application and upload documents
   • To Begin the Application:
     • Select “Submit a Project for Review” (yellow button located mid-page)
     • For Application Category select “Accessory Use Permits”
     • For Application Type select the permit type requested
     • For Project Title enter your address and the permit use being applied for such as:“316 N. Academy- Backyard Chickens”
   • Upload Documents:

All required documents shall be uploaded as individual PDFs and named accordingly (i.e. site layout, property owner approval, etc.)

• Property Information (heated square footage of residence and square footage used for business).
• Business Information (business name & type, customer frequency, hours of operation).
• Property Owner Authorization (if applicant is not property owner of record, applicant must submit signed authorization granting applicant permission to obtain a permit for a home occupation).
• Proof of compliance with all County/State environmental and health regulations and NC State Building Code regulations (for businesses associated with food preparation or catering).

Permits are processed within two weeks of a complete submission.

There is a $100 processing fee for the Accessory Use Permit. 

Maybe. Depending on the nature and size of your business, an inspection of the proposed home-based business may be conducted by the Town of Cary as part of the permitting process. The Town will also inspect and determine compliance with the ordinance on a complaint basis or if staff observation indicates that a violation may be occurring.