Posted on 
Dec 20, 2008 11:02 pm For finding out if or how to work a studio into your home you will want to talk to the city or county about it and how it is zoned. All counties or cities are a bit different. So what works for me here might not be the same for you. But they can tell you.
In all honesty, if your only going to start with small projects or a few of them I would maybe not worry too much about how you are zoned. As long as your neighbor's are cool with a few car's now and then it shouldn't be a huge thing.
But if you are in a closely packed neighborhood then you might want to consider getting the information worked out as to what you can and cannot do.
As for insurance details, again that is something you would want to work out with your insurance agent.
My equipment is insured with a special rider he set up just to cover that. But it is under the main home owner's policy umbrella.
As for injury on your property, again that would be something your insurance agent can answer, but usually that would fall under your homeowners. And I would honestly put a disclaimer in your contracts that they are responsible for any damage to your property and or themselves if they were to fall down and hurt themselves carrying their own equipment.
As for contracts written by you being legal, yes they are. I do however suggest getting to know a local Notary who can be available to notarize any contracts you may go into with a client.
If you have a local law office that happens to have an attorney that has knowledge of the music business you can always simply consult with them to get a bit of help writing a formal generic type contract.