- Home occupation permit required:
- Varies
- Details:
- Westchester County has no county-level zoning authority over home occupations — land use is entirely municipal. Westchester has 6 cities, 16 towns, and 23 villages, each with independent home occupation zoning rules. NY Ag & Markets explicitly states producers should 'consult with your local zoning officials for approval before commencing any home-based business.' Example: in Scarsdale (a Westchester municipality), home occupations without regular customer visits are permitted as-of-right with optional registration; those with regular customers require a Special Use Permit. White Plains (county seat) and other cities/towns will have their own ordinances. Residents must check with their specific municipality.
- Home kitchen:
- NY's Home Processor Exemption (1 NYCRR Part 276) is administered by NY Ag & Markets, not local authorities. Production must occur in the registered home kitchen. NY Ag & Markets requires a private well water potability test (negative for total coliform/E. coli) if producer is on a private well. All products must be baked (kill step required). Consult local zoning officials before commencing home-based business per Ag & Markets guidance.
Last verified 2026-05-06. Not legal advice.
