Land Development Division

To apply for zoning approval, you may apply online via ePortal or in person.

To apply online, please visit ePortal. When you are logged into your ePortal account, go to "Apply", select "Plans", and select “Zoning Approval – Home Occupation Certificate - Office.” Please follow the instructions on the screen.

To apply in-person please bring all necessary documents and check in at the Early Assistance Desk, Development Services Building, 5 County Complex Court, Prince William, VA 22192, to obtain a service ticket for Zoning Counter services. The Zoning Counter is open from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Tickets for zoning counter services stop at 2:00 pm to ensure all customers are served by the close of business.

Please note:

• A maximum of 25% of the floor area of your dwelling may be used for a home occupation.
• No employees are permitted at the residence.
• No customers are permitted at the residence.
• No storage associated with the business outside of the residence is permitted.
• Only one light-duty vehicle, less than 7,500 lbs associated with the business, is permitted on-site.
• Commercial deliveries and pick-ups of supplies associated with the use shall be limited to not more than one per day and shall be made only during business hours.
• Home business offices, associated with a Home Occupation Certificate, are only permitted inside the dwelling unit and not permitted in accessory structures.
• Manufacturing, retail, and cooking are not permitted in association with a home office.
• No signage is permitted.
• The dwelling requested to run the business must be your primary residence. Proof of residency is required.
• This overview is for general informational purposes only and may not reflect all aspects of the review process. Site-specific requirements will be discussed at the time of formal review.

• Provide a completed Home Occupation Application.
• Personal picture identification, showing proof of residence.
  • The address on your license should match the requested address.
• Brief description of how the business will be run within the residence. This can be submitted via PDF for online submissions.
• A statement advising that your business meets the regulations and requirements. This can be submitted via PDF for online submissions. This includes confirming the following:
  • No employees on-site,
  • No customers on-site,
  • No outdoor storage,
  • No more than 1 commercial delivery a day,
  • Only 1 light-duty vehicle associated with the home office on site,
  • No signage on-site.
• Review the Zoning Fee Schedule for the applicable processing fee and pay by credit card.
• Review Step 3 below to check if other requirements may apply to your property or project.

• Applying on someone else's behalf? A Special Power of Attorney Affidavit, completed by the person who will have their office within their residence, is required to apply for a Home Occupation request in their name. Along with the power of attorney, you will also need to bring a copy of their valid driver’s license for proof of residency.
• What qualifies as proof of residence? This includes a valid driver’s licenses or DMV identification cards that display your photo and the address of the home requested as a part of the home occupation application. If you’ve recently moved, the temporary DMV printed out along with the photo ID will be accepted.
  • DMV address change.
• Are you baking in small quantities for local sales (farmers markets, off-site person to person)? Please reach out to the Department of Agriculture for policies and procedures at (804) 786-3520 or [email protected].
• A special use permit may be needed if your business includes manufacturing, baking in large quantities, commercial sale of food, on-site cooking, gunsmithing, or on-site transfers, and/or any business that does not meet the requirements of the Home Occupation Certificate program. Special Use Permits are handled by the Planning Office. For more information, call (703) 792-7615 or email [email protected].
• Taxpayer Services processes business licenses. Visit their website here.
  • Phone: 703-792-6710 / Email: T[email protected]
  • Getting your PWC business license brochure

• To research your property, visit the County Mapper to find the zoning district, environmental impacts, and any overlay districts.
• Learn more about House Location Survey Plats.
• For record requests, contact the Records Center at (703) 792-6863.

Home Occupation definition:
Home occupation shall mean a business activity conducted entirely within a dwelling unit by residents of that unit which is clearly incidental and secondary to the principal use as a dwelling unit. Employees of the business, other than the residents, are not allowed to work at the home where the business is conducted. Home occupation is less intense than home employment and does not have customers coming to the home. Such use shall not change the character of the dwelling unit nor have any exterior evidence. Such uses shall meet the standards of section 32-300.07.

Referenced zoning ordinance sections:
32-300.07.2 – Home Occupation Standards
32-300.02.1 – Motor Vehicle Parking and Storage limitations