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Mountain Brook to Decide on New Home‑Business Ordinance

Mountain Brook is set to vote on a new rule that could stop people from running businesses out of their houses. The city council will meet on July 13 to decide whether the ordinance, postponed for more than a year, should go into effect.

What Happened at the Special Session

During the special session, council members heard from residents and local business owners about how the changes might affect them.
A standout voice was Geoff Luke, owner of the home‑baked bread shop ALCO Baking. He explained that his business, launched in 2024, relies on selling bread from home. Luke warned the council that the new ordinance would exclude retail food businesses like his, giving him only a year to adjust or shut down.

Key Points of the Proposed Rule

• Limit on clients: Only two people for classes or instruction.
• Advertising ban: No outside advertising allowed.
• Special sales events: Yard sales permitted.
• Conditional use permits: Businesses not meeting the guidelines can apply, but medical services, animal boarding, and retail sales would be barred.

City officials say the goal is to protect residential areas while still allowing limited work‑from‑home activity. They also plan to keep the option open to tweak the ordinance later if needed.

Historical Context

• 1997: Mountain Brook allowed tutoring and music lessons from home.
• 2017: Limits were lifted, but noise and parking complaints grew after COVID‑19 work‑from‑home trends.
• May 2025: The city paused new client‑based licenses to rethink the policy.

Luke’s Perspective

Luke, who calls himself “the Bread Guy,” values face‑to‑face interactions with customers and fears the ordinance could cut that connection. He plans to decide what to do next once the vote is taken, hoping the city will find a middle ground that lets small businesses thrive without disturbing residents.