Home-Based Business Application

Overview

This is a Home-Based Business Application form issued by the City of Altoona, PA. It is used to determine if a proposed home-based business complies with local regulations. The application requires a $50. 00 fee.

Application Requirements

Applicants must answer "Yes" or "No" to 15 specific questions regarding the nature of their business. The application is likely denied or requires further review if any of the following conditions are met:

• Shipping: Receiving or shipping goods more than once a day, or using vehicles other than passenger cars or standard parcel couriers (e. g. , FedEx, UPS).
• Staffing: Having employees who do not live in the dwelling.
• Visibility: Exterior or interior displays visible from a public right-of-way, or signs/lights indicating business activity.
• Nuisance Factors: Noise, vibration, glare, fumes, odors, or electrical interference detectable by neighbors.
• Waste: Generating solid waste or sewage not normally associated with residential use.
• Space Usage: Using more than 25% of the ground floor area of the dwelling.
• Structures: Using garages, sheds, or other accessory structures for the business.
• Equipment: Using equipment not customarily found in common residences or offices.
• Retail Sales: Conducting direct retail sales to customers on the premises (excluding mail, phone, or internet).
• Traffic: Creating a volume of traffic or parking demand greater than normally expected.
• Storage: Storing business-related equipment, vehicles, or supplies on the property.
• Parking: Requiring off-street parking or loading berths beyond what is required for the residence.
• Clientele: Having customers or clients visit the house, specifically if the business is a nursery, daycare, tutoring center, dance school, health center, funeral home, eating/drinking establishment, animal facility (kennel/hospital), veterinary office, boarding house, medical/dental clinic, vehicle repair/rental facility, or theater.

Submission Details

• Description: Applicants must provide a written explanation/description of the business.
• Certification: The applicant must sign and date the form, certifying that the information is true and correct.
• Notarization: The application requires a "Form of Individual Acknowledgement" to be notarized by a Notary Public in Blair County, Pennsylvania.
• Submission Address: Community Development Department 1301 12th Street, Suite 400 Altoona, PA 16601
• Contact: (814) 949-2470