Chapter 17.92 — HOME OCCUPATIONS

The purpose of this chapter is to regulate commercial and office uses within and accessory to residential dwellings. It is the intent of these regulations to allow for certain home-based businesses while ensuring that home occupations do not negatively impact the overall quality and character of the surrounding residential neighborhood. (Ord. No. 1000 § 4, 2022)

Prior to the establishment of a home occupation, a home occupation permit shall first be secured by the user. A home occupation permit shall be in addition to any other permit or license that may be required by the city, county, or state, including a business license. Home occupation permits are allowed on legal nonconforming residential properties (e.g., existing single-family home that is legally nonconforming on a parcel that is zoned industrial). (Ord. No. 1000 § 4, 2022)

All home occupations shall comply with the following development standards:

• A. Incidental use by nature. The use of the dwelling as a home occupation shall be clearly incidental and subordinate to its use for residential purposes by its inhabitants. Not more than 15 percent of the total square footage for the dwelling or one room of the dwelling, whichever is less, shall be used for the home occupation. For the purpose of this section, the inhabitants of the home who are working remotely from their place of employment are not considered a home occupation.

• B. Employees. No persons, other than members of the family who reside on the premises, shall be engaged in the home occupation activity. Off-site employees or partners are not permitted, except for cottage food uses, consistent with state law.

• C. Exterior appearance. There shall be no change in the outward appearance of the building or premises, or other visible evidence of the activity.

• D. Sales. There shall be no sales of products on the premises, except produce (fruit or vegetables) grown on the subject property, cottage food products, or homemade crafts. On-site sales allowed shall be limited to the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. as long as sales do not result in visitor or customer traffic beyond allowed in this section. Off-site sales, including electronic and mail order commerce, is permitted, consistent with the other standards of this chapter.

• E. Visitors and customers. Not more than five customers or clients per day shall enter the dwelling for meetings, service, or products and not more than ten vehicle trips per day shall be created by customers or clients. Customers or clients must park either in the driveway of the dwelling or in front of the dwelling only.

• F. Operation standards. No equipment or processes shall be used on the subject property that creates noise, smoke, glare, fumes, odor, vibration, electrical, radio, or television interference disruptive to surrounding properties.

• G. Accessory structures. Home occupations may utilize accessory structures as storage or workspace space provided such use is confined to a cumulative area of not more than 600 square feet in an attached and/or detached accessory structure or garage. An attached or detached garage may be used for storage or workspace as long as sufficient parking space is available on the property to meet the current code requirements.

• H. Deliveries. Deliveries shall not exceed those normally and reasonably occurring for a residence. Deliveries of materials for the home occupation shall not involve the use of commercial vehicles, except for FedEx, UPS, or USPS-type home pickups and deliveries. Off-site deliveries, such as to a post office box, are preferred.

• I. Signs. No signs shall be displayed in conjunction with the home occupation and there shall be no advertising using the home address.

• J. Commercial vehicles. No person shall park or store more than one commercial vehicle or any commercial vehicle over 10,000 pounds licensed gross vehicle weight per dwelling unit.

• K. Prohibited uses. Home occupation permits shall not be granted for the following prohibited uses:

  1. Ammunition recycling.

• (Ord. No. 1000 § 4, 2022)

The following restrictions apply to yard sales:

• A. For purposes of this section, the term "yard sale" means a temporary sale of household items on residential premises.

• B. On any one parcel or lot in any residential zone, a yard sale may be conducted on one day, but not to exceed two consecutive days, in any six-month period. Sales may only be conducted between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

• C. Items displayed, offered, or sold at a yard sale shall only be household items that have been in regular use or storage for six months or more on the same parcel or lot.

D. A yard sale may only be conducted in a residential zone. (Ord. No. 1000 § 4, 2022)