Overview 

The City of Chanhassen allows residents to conduct a business out of their home provided that the following regulations are met. 

General Regulations

• The use of a dwelling unit for any home occupation shall be clearly incidental and subordinate to its residential use. Not more than 25 percent of the floor area of one floor of a dwelling unit shall be used in the conduct of the home occupation. No garage or accessory buildings except accessory agricultural buildings existing on February 19, 1987, shall be used for any home occupation. 

• The home occupation shall be conducted entirely within a fully enclosed building. No change in the outside appearance of the building or land, or other visible evidence of the conduct of the home occupation shall be permitted. Outdoor storage of anything is prohibited in connection with a home occupation. 

• The hours of operation of any home occupation shall be limited to between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. 

• No mechanical or electrical equipment requiring the use of voltage in excess of 220 volts single phase shall be used in the conduct of a home occupation. 

• No commodities, merchandise or supplies shall be sold or offered for sale upon or from the premises, whether at retail or wholesale.

• Only one nonresident of the dwelling unit may be employed upon the premises of a home occupation. 

Prohibited Home Occupations

• Retail or wholesale businesses 

• Contractors' yards/landscaping businesses 

Traffic and Parking Regulations

• No traffic shall be generated by any home occupation in greater volume than would be normally be expected in a residential neighborhood, and no home occupation involving the need for more than three parking spaces for the occupants and visitors shall be permitted.  

• Adequate off-street parking facilities required to service the home occupation shall be provided on the premises, but no such parking facilities shall be established within any required front or side yard, except upon an established driveway. 

• Exterior parking of trailers, steer skid loaders, landscaping equipment, cement mixers, and other similar types of equipment used in conjunction with the home occupation is prohibited. Parking of commercial vehicles in excess of 22 feet in length is prohibited. No commercial vehicles in excess of 9,000 pounds gross weight shall be used in connection with the home occupation or parked on the property.