Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Business Licenses topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Kennesaw council asks staff to research virtual and home‑based business license options for renters
Summary
Council discussed options to reduce barriers for entrepreneurs who live in rentals, including administrative renewal of land‑use permits and possible virtual business licensing; staff were asked to research other Georgia ordinances and return options while noting property‑owner and lease constraints may limit local authority.
At the Aug. 25 work session the Kennesaw Mayor and Council discussed changes to home‑based business licensing and whether the city can create a virtual business license to help entrepreneurs who live in rentals.
Speaker 8 urged the council to find a way to let residents in apartments or rentals operate small, low‑impact businesses without paying for expensive mailing centers, saying many start‑ups and sole proprietors would benefit. "If you own a house, you're able to say, I own my house, I'll run my business here," Speaker 8 said, adding that renters effectively lack that pathway.
Community Development staff (Daryl, Speaker 9) said staff reviewed other jurisdictions and found a mixed approach across Georgia: some cities require property‑owner permission for multifamily units while others provide streamlined administrative renewals for unchanged home‑occupation permits. Daryl said the city has not seen widespread nuisance or violation problems from existing land‑use permits but identified property‑rights and lease provisions as a central constraint for enforcing or overriding landlord decisions.
Councilmembers broadly supported further research. Speaker 6 and others urged staff to look for legal or administrative "loopholes" that would allow virtual licensing for renters without infringing property‑owner rights. Staff committed to bringing options back to a future meeting and to draft code language if feasible.
Clarifying details: staff reported they have reviewed multiple Georgia jurisdictions (examples named in staff materials included Fayetteville, Marietta, Sandy Springs, Woodstock, Smyrna and others) and that some require landlord or management approval for multifamily units. Staff proposed two paths: (1) streamline renewals administratively for existing land‑use permits where nothing has changed; or (2) research ordinance language for a virtual license that still requires an address suitable for emergency contact (a mailing center or physical address, not a PO box).
What’s next: Staff will return with recommended ordinance language and administrative options; council gave direction but did not adopt code changes at the Aug. 25 session.
