Courts have consistently prohibited home-based business when the commercial activity became the ____________ use of the dwelling.

The correct answer is "dominant" because courts have generally upheld regulations that limit home-based businesses when those businesses start to overshadow the residential use of the property. A home is primarily intended for living, and when a commercial activity becomes the dominant use, it indicates that the residence is transformed more into a place of business rather than a home. This shift can lead to issues such as increased traffic, noise, and other disturbances that are not typically associated with residential living.

In contrast, minimal, only, and partial uses do not convey the same level of concern. Minimal use suggests that the commercial activity is not significant enough to disrupt the residential character of the neighborhood, while only implies that the business is the exclusive activity occurring, which, while possibly concerning, does not address the impact of that activity on the overall use of the dwelling. Partial use would indicate that both residential and commercial activities coexist, which may still retain the character of the home. The concept of dominance highlights the threshold beyond which a home-based business might infringe upon residential integrity, thus prompting legal scrutiny.