Home employment: A business activity conducted entirely within a single-family detached dwelling unit by residents of that unit which is clearly incidental and secondary to its principal use as a dwelling unit. Home employment is more intense than home occupation and allows customers to come to the house. Home employment uses may be permitted in accordance with the provisions of the Prince William County Zoning Ordinance, Section 32-300.16.

HOW TO APPLY FOR ZONING APPROVAL:

PERMITTED HOME EMPLOYMENT USES 

• Administrative offices of business and/or trade
• Arts and crafts activities
• Baking/catering (off-premise service)* 
• Beauty salon (no tanning or toning equipment)
• Clerical/secretarial activities
• Day-time adult care (no more than five (5) adults not residing in the home)** 
• Diaper/laundry service
• Floral design
• Interior design/decorating
• Jewelry, watch, clock repair; engraving; locksmith; eyeglass; framing; dentures
• Maid service (off premise)
• Mail order
• Nail sculpture, manicurist
• Offices of a physician, therapist (including psychological, physical, and/or massage), dentist, lawyer, accountant, engineer, architect, desktop publishing, or similar professional***
• Pet grooming 
• Photography
• Picture framing
• Scissors, saw, blade sharpening
• Seamstress, tailoring, upholstery activities
• Small electronics repair
• Tutoring, education or training (no more than five (5) children or two (2) adults at any one time)

* Before requesting Zoning Approval for a Home Employment Certificate for Baking/Catering, please note that the Prince William County Health Department will not authorize home kitchens to be used for commercial catering purposes. Any baking-related home employment must conform to the standards of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. For additional requirements and information from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services call (804) 786-3520 or visit their website at www.vdacs.virginia.gov.
** Before requesting Zoning Approval for a Home Employment Certificate for Adult Day Care, an application must first be filed with the Virginia Department of Social Services. For additional requirements and information from Social Services call (804) 726-7000 or visit www.dss.virginia.gov
*** Before requesting Zoning Approval for a Home Employment Certificate for Massage Therapy, an application must first be filed with the Prince William County Environmental Health Department. For additional requirements and information from Environmental Health call (703) 792-6310 or visit www.vdh.virginia.gov