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My son wants to open an auto repair business in our back yard. (He's not a licensed mechanic yet, but that will come soon). We're in Mecklenburg County. I think we have the requisite space in our yard (residential neighborhood). There's about 25 feet between houses. The back yard is about 80 feet deep, fenced all the way around. It would be an open-air work space with a roof.
I'm not finding anything ordinances that are definitive about restrictions except for noise ordinances and that he can't have employees that don't live in the residence.
Are you in unincorporated county land outside an HOA? I know a home based repair shop is prohibited in Charlotte city limits. If you click "Starting a Home Based Business", it will open a pdf in the link below and lists prohibited home based businesses.
Thanks for the link. I'm a stone's throw from Plaza Midwood, no HOA, not in unincorporated area of Meck county.
A guy in my neighborhood has a repair/salvage shop in his back yard and the plan was for my son to take over the business that he doesn't have time to tend to--- even with the guy's helpers. The guy does a lot of restoration work and I am surprised by the county regulation that says that vehicle repair shops can't be run from the home.. The guy across the street said that CMPD doesn't care, so I guess that the same would apply to my son's proposal. He even said that CMPD came to his place in response to a complaint, but since nothing appeared to be stolen, it was okay.
Wow. This is confusing. Who shuold I call for clerification? This guy does a LOT of business, and I'd hate for my son to lose out on a good thing.
CMPD probably doesn't care because it isn't a crime, it is a code and zoning violation. All complaints would be enforced by the Code Enforcement department and would only escalate to the police if somebody refused to comply with the Code Enforcement employee shutting a non-code compliant business down. The police aren't responsible for knowing all of the city codes and rules / regulations regarding land use, nor enforcing them. Most likely the person that initially complained reported it to the police rather than Code Enforcement, so it never got shut down the correct way as the police didn't see a crime. If nobody else is complaining to Code Enforcement, a code enforcement employee has likely never been to the property to see the non-compliant business (if his property is zoned Residential), hence his business has never been shut down.
If you live in city limits and somebody reported a Code Violation at this link or called the department, a Code Enforcement employee will be dispatched. https://charlottenc.gov/HNS/Code/Pages/Report.aspx
Obviously, the guy in your neighborhood is conducting his business illegally. Your son can certainly do the same, up until the time he gets caught, which may be never. See this: https://charlottenc.gov/HNS/Code/Zon...20Business.pdf
Its very clear:
"Prohibited home businesses include, but are not limited to: ...equipment and vehicle repair shops..."
"If you need a sign permit, zoning use or customary home occupation permit application, contact zoning enforcement staff at 704.336.7600."
I don't think my son will get involved with this guy. He has been bugging my son to meet a relative who is supposedly looking for a boyfriend. He brought her by Wednesday afternoon and dropped her off while my son tinkered with his car. She didn't look like she was much older than fifteen (maybe). My son told her that he wasn't interested. Her accent was odd and she kept asking him if he wanted to buy some "***" (Whatever that is. I can guess).
My boy is gonna pass on this one. It has BAD NEWS written all over it.
Thanks, all.
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