Athens, AL · Limestone County
Home Occupation Application
Athens residents use this application to provide business, residence, and operating details when seeking approval to conduct a home occupation, then submit the signed form to the city department.
- licensed online notary
- ~15 min average
- Notarized PDF emailed
What you’ll need
- Government-issued photo ID
- Webcam-enabled device (laptop or phone)
- This form, ready to upload as a PDF
What this form is
Use this application to describe your home-based business, where its activities and storage will occur, and details such as employees, hours, traffic, parking, and commercial vehicles. Athens requires an application for every home occupation. The applicant certifies that the information is true and that, to the best of their knowledge, the business complies with applicable laws. City officials complete the ruling section; major home occupations require a separate Special Exception Use application.
Who needs it
A resident seeking approval to operate a business from their Athens home must complete and submit this application to Engineering Services and Community Development.
Why it needs a notary
The applicant signs the certification before a notary; the form carries a sworn-to-and-subscribed-before-me jurat with a notary seal and commission-expiration field.
How to get this notarized
- 1
Download the Application
Get the Home Occupation Application from the Athens document page.
- 2
Complete the Form
Enter applicant, residence, business, and operating details, and review the certification.
- 3
Book an Online Notary
Schedule a session with a commissioned online notary for the applicant certification.
- 4
Sign on Video
Sign the certification during the online notary session so the jurat can be completed.
- 5
Submit to the City
Send the notarized application to Athens Engineering Services and Community Development at City Hall.
Preview the form
The blank PDF straight from Athens. Look it over, then upload your filled copy to start the notary session.
You’ll need ID and a webcam.
A licensed online notary will join you on video, verify your government-issued ID, witness your signature, and apply their seal. You’ll receive the notarized PDF by email when the session ends.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I get my Athens home occupation application notarized online?
- Complete the application, then book a session with a commissioned online notary. Sign the applicant certification during the video session and submit the notarized form to Athens Engineering Services and Community Development.
- Do I need to sign the application in front of a notary?
- Yes. The form includes a sworn-to-and-subscribed-before-me jurat, so the applicant signs before a notary, who completes the notarial section and seal.
- Can a commissioned online notary notarize this application?
- An acknowledgment taken outside Alabama has the same effect as one taken inside Alabama when it complies with the law where it is taken and bears the officer’s official seal. Confirm with the city or town if unsure.
- Where do I submit the completed application?
- The form directs applicants to submit it to the Engineering Services and Community Development Department at Athens City Hall, 200 Hobbs Street West, Athens, Alabama 35611.