Question
If you set up an office in your home, who do you have to talk to in order to make sure it does not go against zoning?
Answer
If you have a Homeowner's Assoc. or if you live in a development, it may be detailed in that covenant. Some areas will allow you to have a business in your home as long as you do not have a sign out front and you don't have a lot of traffic. They may let that fly under the radar. Other places will say you absolutely cannot have a practice working out of your home. You'll need to clarify that. If you are working for Home Health or Early Intervention where you do not see clients in your home, it's not an issue because you are just basically doing paperwork.
Also, this would be a good conversation to have with a lawyer - they usually can assist in finding out this information - and I find it is a better use of my time to have a professional do the searching, so I know all my bases are covered. You may also want to check with your borough or township - this may also open up the discussion for the need of a business license - again, a lawyer can be very helpful here.
This Ask the Expert was taken from the course entitled: Private Practice Basics - Developing Your Practice
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Denise Dougherty is a solo practitioner in Pennsylvania and consults for The Arijah Children's Foundation in Anguilla, BWI, providing evaluations and therapy for special needs children. Denise serves as the President of the American Academy of Private Practice in Speech Pathology and Audiology (AAPPSPA), and is the AAPPSPA liaison for ASHA Health Care Economics Committee.