SB 1444 — An Act amending the act of July 31, 1968 (P.L.805, No.247), known as the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, in general provisions, further providing for definitions; and, in zoning, further providing for ordinance provisions and for interpretation of ordinance provisions.

Summary

Protecting Home-Based Businesses from Burdensome Regulation

Bill Text

• Printer's No. 1951 View text Current

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This bill modifies the definition and regulations surrounding no-impact home-based businesses within the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code.

• Section 107(a)

  involves no customer, client or patient traffic, whether vehicular or pedestrian, pickup, delivery or removal functions to or from the premises, in excess of those normally associated with residential use → does not cause a substantial increase in traffic through the residential area.

  This change broadens the traffic requirement for no-impact home-based businesses.

• Section 107(a)(2)

  The business shall employ no employees other than family members residing in the dwelling. → The total number of on-site employees and clients does not exceed the municipal occupancy limit for the residential property.

  This allows for potentially more employees and clients as long as they comply with municipal occupancy limits.

• Section 107(a)(3)

  There shall be no display or sale of retail goods and no stockpiling or inventory of a substantial nature. → The business activities are limited to the sale of lawful goods and services. Goods shall be limited to merchandise, equipment, products, supplies or materials.

  This change permits the sale of goods and services, provided they are lawful, broadening business activities.

• Section 107(a)(4)

  There shall be no visible outside appearance of a business use, including[, but not limited to,] on-street parking, signs or lights.

  This removes specifics regarding visible business appearances that could restrict some business setups.

• Section 107(a)(7)

  and may not occupy more than 25% of the habitable floor area

  This modification removes the limitation on the percentage of space that can be occupied by a no-impact home-based business.

• Section 603(l)

  supersede

  This clarifies that zoning ordinance permission for no-impact home-based businesses does not override existing land use restrictions.

• Section 603(l)(2)

  Prohibit a no-impact home-based business or otherwise require a person to apply, register or obtain a permit, license, variance or other type of prior approval from the municipality to operate a no-impact home-based business.

  This prevents municipalities from imposing additional approval requirements for no-impact home-based businesses.

• Section 603.1

  the → The

  This change makes a grammatical adjustment for clarity in the interpretation of the ordinance provisions.

• Section 603.1(1)

  or any implied extension of the restriction.

  This removes language that allowed for implied extensions of restrictions in interpreting regulations.

• Section 603.1(2)

  and the municipality that enacted the regulation shall establish by clear and convincing evidence that the regulation complies with this section.

  This change places the onus on municipalities to prove the compliance of their regulations concerning no-impact home-based businesses.

Action History

1. September 24, 2026

   Referred to LOCAL GOVERNMENT, Sept. 24, 2026

Sponsors

• Elder A. Vogel · Cosponsor
• Judy Ward · Cosponsor
• Camera Bartolotta · Cosponsor
• Patrick J. Stefano · Cosponsor
• Scott E. Hutchinson · Cosponsor
• Doug Mastriano · Cosponsor
• Greg Rothman · Primary

Subjects