Thinking of Putting Up a Home Business in Frederick, Maryland?

Filed in archive business tips on May 7, 2007

Or any business at all? You might want to learn more about the rules and regulations in how to get your business approved.

Here are some notes about the laws a potential home business person in frederick county needs to know before jumping right in:

"Chuck Boyd, of the city's planning department, noted that while both the county and state help entrepreneurs, every jurisdiction has different rules.

Even within the city, he said, those locating in the Historic Preservation District must adhere to an additional set of regulations on such items as signs and exterior appearance.

"If you go to the city's website and click on GIS Spires, you can get a bird's eye view of the city. You can see where you may want to locate a business, check out the parking and zoning, see who owns the building via the state assessments office."

For home-based businesses, where many entrepreneurs get their start, for example, Boyd said the city's rules are more stringent than the county's.

The ideal home business is intended to be transparent, Boyd said.

"No one will ever know you even have a business in your home," he said. "This makes me happy and the neighbors happy. I'm sure there are home businesses out there now going on that I don't know about and as long as there is no problem, I'm happy."

Telecommuting is not a home business and needs no permit, he said.

But a home-based business cannot have a sign, can't have traffic or more than one employee who does not live in the house.

"Come in if you have questions and we can take you through the steps," Boyd said. "But it doesn't mean it will work. You can't have a lawn contractor business testing mowers at 6 a.m. or a cleaning service storing chemicals in the house."

Roger Twigg, of the city's zoning office, noted the city has a one-stop shop for same-day permitting, if the entrepreneur has everything in order. That one-day program, however, does not include any business that is locating in the Historic Preservation District, as that requires a scheduled public meeting."

More details of this small business workshop.

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