Can I run a business from home in Auburn, Maine?
Yes. Auburn permits home occupations in all residential districts with a $60 home occupation permit, as long as the business is run by someone living in the home and has at most one outside employee. The business can't operate from a detached garage or shed. Detailed rules on signs, customers and parking are in a part of the code we couldn't review.
| Where allowed | All residential zoning districts, with city approval [1] |
| Non-resident employees | Up to 1 [2] |
| Accessory buildings | Can't house a home occupation [3] |
| Permit fee | $60 [4] |
Allowed in every residential district, with approval
Auburn's zoning code permits home occupations in all residential zoning districts. The use must fit the code's definition, and you need approval from the city under the home occupation regulations in Article IX [1]. Home occupation permits are handled by Permitting and Code Enforcement [6], and the permit fee is $60 [4].
What counts as a home occupation
A home occupation is a business run as an accessory use of your home by the person living there. You can have up to one employee who doesn't live on the premises [2]. The business has to be in the house itself. The code says no accessory building, such as a detached garage or shed, may house a home occupation or professional office, or be used as a sales outlet, in a residential district [3]. A separate "residential artist studio" use lets up to 50% of a home's floor space be used to produce art or crafts [5].
What we couldn't review
The detailed standards for home occupations are in Article IX of the zoning ordinance. They likely cover signs, customer visits and parking, outdoor storage and prohibited businesses. That article is published only on Municode, and we couldn't download it for this review. Ask the city about those limits before you apply. Some activities need state licenses too, such as a Home Food License for selling baked goods, or a child care license.
See how Auburn compares with 8+ other Maine towns on home-based businesses →
Next steps
- Ask the Planning, Permitting & Code Department (Auburn Hall, 60 Court Street, 207-333-6601) for the Article IX home occupation standards that apply to your business: signs, customers, parking.
- Apply for a Home Occupation permit through the city's SmartGov portal and pay the $60 fee.
- Check whether your business also needs a city business license (City Clerk) or a state license.
Common questions
- Can I run a business from my home in Auburn, Maine?
- Yes. Auburn permits home occupations in all residential districts with city approval, as long as the business is run by someone living in the home and has at most one outside employee. Detailed rules on signs, customers and parking are in a part of the code we couldn't review.
- How much is a home occupation permit in Auburn, Maine?
- The home occupation permit fee is $60. You apply through the city's SmartGov portal; home occupation permits are handled by Permitting and Code Enforcement.
- Can I run a home business out of my garage or shed in Auburn, Maine?
- No, not from a detached building. Auburn's code says no accessory building, such as a detached garage or shed, may house a home occupation or professional office, or be used as a sales outlet, in a residential district.
- How many employees can a home business have in Auburn, Maine?
- Up to one person who doesn't live on the premises, under Auburn's definition of a home occupation. The business must be run by the person living in the home.
Maine state rules for home businesses
Maine has no statewide home-occupation law. Whether you can run a business from home, and with what limits, is mostly up to your town's zoning. A few state rules may apply:
- Sales tax registration: If you regularly sell taxable goods or services from home, you must register with Maine Revenue Services and collect sales tax.
- Home food businesses: Making shelf-stable foods (baked goods, jams and similar) to sell requires a Home Food License from the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. It costs $20 a year and needs an initial kitchen inspection. Foods that must be refrigerated need a commercial license instead.
- Family child care: A state law (30-A M.R.S. §4364-D) makes family child care providers a permitted use in residential zones, under the same zoning rules as a single-family home. As amended in 2026, towns must follow it starting July 1, 2027. State child care licensing applies separately.
- Shoreland zone: The DEP's model shoreland ordinance defines a home occupation as one clearly incidental to the home, with no more than 2 employees besides family members living there. It requires a planning board permit in Limited Residential, Resource Protection and Stream Protection districts, and a code officer permit in Limited Commercial districts.
What the ordinance says
- Sec. 60-46 Home occupation (Supp. No. 34), PROPOSAL (not adopted): Planning Board workshop packet 2026-08-11 - draft Chapter 60 amendments for LD 1829/LD 2173 (Sec. 60-2 definitions and Article II General Provisions, redline on Supp. No. 34 text), p. 25
The establishment of a home occupation shall be permitted in all residential zoning districts provided the use is consistent with the definition of home occupation and approval is secured form the department of community development and planning in accordance with article IX of this chapter.
- Sec. 60-2 Definitions, "Home occupation" (Supp. No. 34), PROPOSAL (not adopted): Planning Board workshop packet 2026-08-11 - draft Chapter 60 amendments for LD 1829/LD 2173 (Sec. 60-2 definitions and Article II General Provisions, redline on Supp. No. 34 text), p. 9
Home occupation means the accessory use of a dwelling unit for a business or commercial venture engaged in, by the person residing in the dwelling unit, and which allows up to one person who does not reside on the premises to be employed by that home occupation.
- Sec. 60-2 Definitions, "Accessory structure or building" (Supp. No. 34), PROPOSAL (not adopted): Planning Board workshop packet 2026-08-11 - draft Chapter 60 amendments for LD 1829/LD 2173 (Sec. 60-2 definitions and Article II General Provisions, redline on Supp. No. 34 text), p. 2
No accessory building shall house a home occupation or professional office or be used as a sales outlet in a residential district.
- Appendix A, Businesses and Business Regulations, Appendix A - Fees and Charges, Master Fee Schedule (as passed 2026-07-20), p. 5
Home Occupation Permit $60.00
- Sec. 60-2 Definitions, "Artist studio, residential" (Supp. No. 34), PROPOSAL (not adopted): Planning Board workshop packet 2026-08-11 - draft Chapter 60 amendments for LD 1829/LD 2173 (Sec. 60-2 definitions and Article II General Provisions, redline on Supp. No. 34 text), p. 3
Artist studio, residential means a dwelling where up to 50 percent of the total floor space can be used for the production of art and/or craft products.
- Permits page, departments, Permits (SmartGov portal, permit types by department, burn permit and flood hazard permit links)
Permitting and Code Enforcement - Address, Building, Electrical, Home Occupation, MUBEC Residential Energy Code, Plumbing, and Sign Permit Applications