Hello and welcome to the Business.gov Community. I believe you are asking about the laws for conducting a business from your residence. I suggest starting with the Business.gov Home Based Business Resource Pages. Included here are suggestions for setting up your business in your home, important zoning laws for home-based businesses, and tax information.

I don't want to sound like the 'bad one' so to start out, I'll ask 'Is speeding legal?' No, but it in the long run, if everyone is going the same speed, everyone wins. Same with your business. If people end up needing your services, you'll have customers and your community wins. A good local government will bend the rules some and set their own standards. Setting ALL politics aside, it's increasingly difficult for a small business to get started and take hold. It's a down economy so it's harder to know how much money you'll need. If you concerns are financial and security, they both probably come down to being financial in the end. You could always move into a wood shipping crate! (I'd go for the 'move into the building' option!) Good luck - I hope it goes well

First thing you have to do is to specify your question. It is too vague to provide any suggestion. Residing in a commercial business center is quite different from running a commercial business from your residential place. Furthermore, you have not mentioned what type of business you want to run.   regards shimul   web designer

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I have the same kind of question. I have an auto repair and sales facility. I own two buildings, one i am about to put a roof on. My property is zoned c-3 commercial and i want too live on the property till it is done, for financial and security reasons. Is that legal?

If CharlotteW's answer does not fit your question (your question is a bit vague), my answer would be no IF it is only zoned as a retail or mfr zone.  If you are talking about your own home, use CharlotteW advice.

sma13, Does your question refer to a home-based business or living in a commercial business building? I think the responses will be very different depending on which one. ---------------------------------- Jeff Home of the Packing and Crating Industry Message Edited by ChristineL on 10-09-2009 02:47 PM

It all depends on zoning and what type of business you will be running out of your home. The best thing to do would be check your local laws as each city, country, and state seems to have slightly different rules.

I think the answer lies more in zoning and the type of business such as a restaurant or hair salon that has health concerns.   In general I would simply consider the common sense of if it would have a negative impact on your business.   Also, the question may be, 'do you have another choice?' In starting a business, I HAD to rent my condo and put my bed and a dresser on the rafters over my office for about a year. After that, I ended up kind of renting a room from the renter of my own condo for a while.   If that's what you have to do to survive, then that's your answer.

i would have to think that is a bad idea because what if you piss off a few customers.   they know where you live!.