This column is BizLaunchA division of Arlington Economic Development.
This summer, we’re taking a deep dive into regulations that many startups tend to overlook when starting their business. Last summer, we detailed one of the main regulations startups tend to forget about: Arlington business licenses. Today, we’re going to cover another main regulation that many Arlington independent consultants who work from home tend to forget about: work from home permits.
If you use your residence as your principal place of business, you need a telecommuting permit, which allows many professions, including accountants, consultants, engineers and artists.
However, there are some occupations that are not permitted in residential areas, such as antique shops, daycare centers, restaurants and coffee shops, auto repair businesses, etc. The reason these occupations are not permitted is because many of these occupations create a nuisance in residential areas and decrease the quality of life in the surrounding areas.
Obtaining a telecommuting permit is very easy. Simply fill out Permit Arlington's telecommuting application and log in or create an account. In the Create dropdown menu at the top, click Zoning Application, which will expand a list of different zoning applications and select Telecommuting. To obtain a telecommuting permit, applicants must be Arlington County residents and a parking disclosure map is required for telecommuting. Use the Parking Map tool to fulfill this requirement.
While certain occupations may be permitted under a Home Occupation Permit, we strongly encourage you to check your lease or apartment documents before applying for a Home Occupation Permit to see if your apartment or condo association allows residents to operate a business from home.
We know permits and regulations can be a daunting task, but BizLaunch has an “easy button” to walk startups through all the regulations specific to their business. Schedule a one-on-one consultation with one of our three small business experts today.
To learn more about BizLaunch and take advantage of the many small business resources we offer, please visit www.bizlaunch.org.