So I found out recently that there was something I needed to be researching, and that is Georgia Counties that allow or forbid home Photography Studios. It’s not home photography studios specifically that they forbid. But it seems that more than half of the counties in Georgia, have strict anti-business laws. You see there is a difference between a home office, where all you did is paperwork, computer work, and sit alone at your desk, versus a home business that you meet with clients, do client consults, or other activities with them.
It has been my life long dream to have a multi level house with multiple studio areas, and we have been house hunting in Georgia. Thanks to another photographer giving me the heads up after I had found what I thought was a perfect house, I discovered these terrible anti-business laws.
I am going to do my best to create this page as a resource for photographers and other business owners who run their businesses from home. Hopefully something will change in the future as Georgia seems to have many counties that are very ‘anti-business’.
I found multiple counties that had black and white laws, including but not limited to the following.
- ‘You are prohibited from having clients in your home’
- ‘You are prohibited from conducting sales in your home’
- ‘You are prohibited from having another employee in your home’
- ‘You may not have another employee pick up a vehicle from your home’
- ‘Other employees may not meet you at your home’
- ‘You may not provide a service in your home’
- ‘You may not have any sort of work vehicle at your home’
These laws are insanely ridiculous in my own personal opinion, and I would never consider living in a county that had such restrictive anti-business laws. Especially in the time of covid when double or tripple the population are now forced to run their businesses out of home.
On the contrast, I found at least one amazing county, that specifically listed the opposite of the above counties, and seemed an amazing place to live. I want to share this information as it seems that people in general are unaware, and in facebook groups I have seen real estate agents messaging me trying to sell me houses in areas with counties that forbid the running of a business.
The amazing county I found had the following stipulations.
A home business permitted in a residential zone includes the following.
- ‘Lawyers, Real Estate Agents, Brokers etc. may have offices where they conduct client business meetings in the home’
- ‘Hair salons and barbers may have an in home salon’
- ‘Photographers may have in home photography studios’
- ‘I commercial vehicle permitted per family.’
Look at the absolute contrast! I personally don’t know many people that don’t have their own in home business. Between friends who are contractors, electricians, wedding industry professionals, cleaners, vitamin developers, almost every friend I have is an entrepreneur and it’s so sad and shockingly surprising to find out how many counties in Georgia just outright prohibit this!
My goal with this page is to go through all of the business friendly, and anti-business counties and share that information with you. I am sure that there are some photographers or home businesses that are operating against the laws of their county either through ignorance or intentionally. However I am the sort of person who likes to do everything within the law, and obey the law, so here is the information.
Bartow County has strict prohibitions against home businesses. No clients in the home, no services may be provided in the home, and no commercial vehicle may be stored in the home. A photography studio is prohibited in Bartow County.
Canton permits photographers to have in home studios, lawyers, and brokers to have in home consultations, and home hair salons and barbers in residential zones. Canton has the friendliest laws embracing home photography studios.
Cherokee County stipulates “Owners/operators of all home occupations shall maintain a current occupational tax certificate. Failure to hold a current occupational tax certificate will invalidate the home occupation.” Cherokee County says that clients are permitted in the home and lists beauty salons as a permitted home business, but does not specify a photographic studio. It is assumed that one would be ok but it stipulates that special permission for an unlisted business is required by the county. Photographers would be required to seek permission from Cherokee County to have an in home studio. Do this before considering moving there.
Cobb County page has many stipulations and one is “No clients or customers are allowed on the premises, except for individual instruction, such as tutoring, musical lessons and the like, for the purpose of supplementing an income.” It goes on to say “Customary home occupations.” are allowed, so I am looking to see what the clarification of that is. Sec. 134-198. – R-15 single-family residential district reiterates that no clients or customers are allowed on the premises. It stipulates under Forbidden uses “No sale of goods or products shall be permitted except if accessory to a customary home occupation, land use permit, special land use permit or special exception use.” It also states the following “No article, product or service used or sold in connection with such activity shall be other than those normally found on the premises.” All of these stipulations seem to indicate that an in home studio is forbidden by Cobb County. You can email them yourselves for verification however.
Dallas Georgia appears to prohibit clients or customers in the home, restricting home businesses to home offices only. “Contact with customers and clients shall be made by telephone or mail. No on-street parking of business-related vehicles shall be permitted at any time. No business vehicle larger than a van, or pickup truck shall be permitted to remain on the premises other than a vehicle owned by the resident.” It goes on to stipulate that “Beauty salons, barbershops and similar businesses are not home occupations.” Typically where a hairdresser can have an in home salon, a photographer can have an in home studio, so it would be safe to interpret this as Dallas County prohibiting a home photographic studio.
Dahlonega Georgia appears to permit home photography studios. While it does not specifically list this occupation, it does say that it approves of home barbershops and home hair salons with a limit of 2 customers at one time. It also says that accountants and brokers and real estate agents can meet clients in their home. “The following uses are allowable as home occupations (not all inclusive): Tutoring, consultation and instruction in music, dance, arts, crafts and similar subjects, limited to two (2) students at one time; day care centers serving six (6) or less persons; professional services (i.e., attorneys, architects, accountants, realtors, insurance and travel agents; secretarial services and answering services; mail order and general offices not involving storage of equipment, materials or vehicles; phone solicitations; beauty salons and barber shops limited to two patrons at a time; food catering).”
Decatur Georgia seems to list home offices and studios together. It would appear by the following rules that in home photographic studios are permitted in Decatur. “Contact with the public is limited to no more than 2 visitors in the dwelling at one time” Indoor Recreation is listed as “Art, music, dance, and photographic studio.”
Duluth Georgia information was difficult to determine anything on the matter without contacting them directly.
Dunwoody Georgia seems to determine an in home business as one that is operated in the home with no employees. Type A Home Occupations do not have any employees or clients or customers coming into the home. Type B Home Occupations are listed as “household residents use their home as a place of work and either one non-resident employee or customers come to the site” which indicates that clients or customers are permitted in the home. The following is taken from the Dunwoody codes. “Office or consumer service. Professional, governmental, executive, management or administrative offices. Typical uses include administrative offices, law offices, architectural and engineering firms, insurance companies, travel agencies, photography studios, tax preparation services and similar offices and consumer service businesses. Medical offices are included under the “medical services” use subcategory.” It would appear that home studios are permitted in Dunwoody.
Forsythe County stipulates that a home office does not permit employees, clients, or customers in the home. Whereas a home business does permit those. Forsythe County appears to allow in home studios, but it is suggested to make contact for verification.
Gainesville was difficult to determine any information on the approval of in home businesses, or the prohibition of them. You can view the Gainesville information for yourself. You may need to make contact for a direct answer. Unable to determine Gainesville laws.
Grayson Georgia is another one that is hard to determine. You may want to contact the city directly.
Holly Springs Georgia is also difficult to determine. Contact the city for clarification.
Paulding County states that “Sec. K. – O-I office and institutional district.” did permit “photographic studios, funeral homes, and hospitals” but it looks like O-I zones are something between residential and commercial zones. “This zoning category would also serve as a buffer between residential development and commercial development.” Further investigation required. I would suggest directly contacting the county to enquire.
Peach County Georgia does not seem to stipulate as to whether clients are or are not permitted.
Pickens County Georgia seems to have generous rules allowing a home business stipulated as follows. “
A home occupation must be clearly subordinate to the principal use of a parcel. In the AG, SA, ER, RR, SR, UR, SPC and SRPC districts, no more than 25 percent of the floor area of the dwelling unit may be used for home occupation purposes or for storage purposes in connection with a home occupation. An accessory building cannot be used in conjunction with a home occupation in the ER, RR, SR, UR, SPC, and SRPC districts.
2.In the AG and SA districts, no more than 25 percent of the dwelling nor more than 600 square feet of an accessory building may be used for home occupation purposes or for storage purposes in connection with a home occupation.
3.The home occupation is limited to employment of residents of the property plus not more than one additional person.”
Polk County is confusing. It stipulates 2 types of businesses, one where customers, or employees may not come to your home. Another type where clients like tutoring students do come to your home. More clarification should be sought directly with Polk County on this matter. Unable to determine home studio rulings for Polk County.
Roswell Georgia allows businesses to have a limit of 5 clients to their home per week. It would appear that home photography studios are permitted in Roswell with limitations.
If an area of Georgia that you are residing or thinking of moving to is not listed above, you can search for yourself at this link.
