What Should I Get My Landlord to Approve Before Opening My Business?

By Bill Stilwell · Last reviewed October 17, 2026

The short answer

Before you sign a lease or change how you use a rented space, get the landlord’s approval in writing for what you’ll actually do there. That includes your type of business, customer visits, hours, signs, deliveries, parking, and any build-out. The lease and zoning both have to allow it. If you work from a rented home or a shared office, check your lease or membership terms too.

What this means

A commercial lease usually has sections that limit what you can do. Look for:

Use clause. What business activities are allowed. Some are narrow, like “retail sales of clothing.”
Exclusive and restricted uses. Some shopping centers promise one tenant they’ll be the only one selling a certain thing, which may block you.
Signage. What signs you can put up, where, and with whose approval.
Hours. Some centers require minimum hours, and some limit late hours.
Alterations. Approval needed for build-out, walls, plumbing, or electrical.
Parking and deliveries. Where customers, staff, and trucks can go (see 9.4.6 Parking Rules).
Insurance. Coverage you must carry and name the landlord on (see 10.8.5 Property Insurance).
Permits and compliance. Who’s responsible for getting permits and paying for required upgrades (see 9.4.3 Certificate of Occupancy).

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) says to make sure any property you rent fits local zoning. The lease is the second check. Both have to say yes.

Made-up example: Oak and Iron Barbershop finds a spot in a strip center. The draft lease says “personal services.” The owner asks the landlord to add “barbershop, including sale of grooming products,” approve a lit sign on the front, allow hours until 8 p.m., and confirm the suite number for the address. All four go into the signed lease, so the Google profile, sign, and hours match from day one.

Why it matters

Default risk. Using the space in a way the lease doesn’t allow can be a breach.
Sign surprises. If the landlord won’t approve a permanent sign, you may not meet Google’s signage guideline for showing your address.
Hours conflicts. Posting hours on Google that your lease or building access doesn’t allow leads to locked doors and bad reviews.
Cost surprises. Required upgrades can land on you if the lease says so.
Home rentals. Many residential leases limit business use, customer visits, or signs.

Who this applies to

Every business that rents space, including:

Storefronts, offices, and shops
Home-based businesses in rented homes or apartments
Businesses in shared, co-working, or executive suite spaces (see 14.2.5 Virtual Offices and Shared Spaces)

If you own your building, zoning and other rules still apply, but there’s no landlord approval.

How to do it

Check zoning first (see 9.4.1 Zoning).
Write down exactly what you’ll do: services, products, customer visits, hours, staff, deliveries, signs, equipment, and any build-out.
Compare that list to the lease section by section: use, exclusives, signs, hours, alterations, parking, insurance, and permits.
Ask for changes in writing for anything not clearly allowed.
Confirm the address details with the landlord: the official street address and suite number, so your listings are right (see 14.1.2 Address).
Get sign approval in writing before you order the sign (see 9.4.5 Signage Permits).
Have an attorney review the lease before you sign.
Store the signed lease and approvals with your legal records and add key dates to your requirement matrix (see 9.3 Requirement Matrix).
Ask again before changes. New services, longer hours, or a new sign may need new approval.

What proof to keep

The signed lease and all amendments
Written landlord approvals for use, signage, hours, and alterations
The landlord’s sign rules or criteria, if any
The official address and suite number in writing

Common mistakes

Relying on a verbal “sure, that’s fine.” Get it in writing.
Ignoring the exclusives section. You can be blocked from selling something another tenant has rights to.
Ordering a sign before approval. It may not meet the landlord’s rules.
Using a co-working address on Google without meeting Google’s rules. You need clear signage, in-person service during business hours, and staff present.
Running a business from a rental home without checking the lease.

When to get help from a pro

An attorney should review any commercial lease before you sign. Ask:

Does the use clause cover everything we plan to do?
Who pays for permits and required upgrades?
What happens if zoning or occupancy approval is denied?
Are there exclusives or hours rules that affect us?

Bill’s note

[Bill: add a short lesson. For example, a client whose landlord wouldn’t approve a sign and what that meant for their Google listing, or a co-working space that didn’t meet Google’s rules.]

How I did this for SiteSmarty

[Date I did this:]
[What I actually did, step by step: what SiteSmarty’s lease or space agreement allows and what I asked to add]
[What it cost and how long it took:]
[What surprised me or what I’d do differently:]
[Screenshot or photo to add, with private info blurred: the approval letter or lease sections]
[Result so far:]

Questions people ask

What is a use clause? The part of a lease that says what business activities are allowed in the space.

Do I need landlord approval for a sign? Usually yes, and you may also need a city sign permit.

Can my landlord limit my hours? Some leases set required or limited hours. Read the hours section before you post hours online.

Can I run a business from a rented home? It depends on your lease and local zoning. Many residential leases limit business use or customer visits.

Can I list a co-working space on Google? Only if you have clear signage there, serve customers in person during business hours, and your staff is there during those hours.

Audit check

Question: Does the lease or a written approval allow the business’s actual use, sign, hours, and alterations, and do the listings match the approved address and suite?
Pass looks like: Signed lease and approvals cover every activity. Sign approved in writing. Hours on Google fit the lease. Address and suite match the landlord’s records.
Fail looks like: Verbal approvals only. Activities outside the use clause. Unapproved sign. Co-working address on Google without signage or staff.
Evidence to collect: Signed lease, amendments, approval letters, and a Business Profile screenshot showing address and hours.

Where this fits

Do this first: 9.4.1 Zoning

Do this next: 9.4.5 Signage Permits

Sources

U.S. Small Business Administration, "Pick your business location" (checked October 17, 2026)
Google Business Profile Help, "Guidelines for representing your business on Google" (checked October 17, 2026)

This page explains general rules and Bill's own experience. It is not legal, tax, or insurance advice. Talk to a qualified professional about your situation.