Chapter 17.97 — LIVE/WORK UNITS

The purpose of this chapter is to establish standards for the location, development, and operation of integrated live/work units and for the reuse of existing residential, commercial, and industrial structures to accommodate live/work opportunities. (Ord. No. 1015 § 3, 2023)

Live/work units may be established through the conversion of existing buildings or by new construction, subject to the permit requirements of the underlying zone. (Ord. No. 1015 § 3, 2023)

A live/work unit may be changes to exclusively a residential or commercial use in any building if the residential or commercial use is allowed in the zone in which the building is located. (Ord. No. 1015 § 3, 2023)

No portion of a live/work unit may be separately rented or sold as a commercial space for a person or persons not living in the premises or as residential space for a person or persons not working in the same unit. (Ord. No. 1015 § 3, 2023)

The residential space within a live/work unit must be occupied by at least one individual employed in the business conducted within the live/work unit. (Ord. No. 1015 § 3, 2023)

The occupant of a live/work unit is required to hold a valid business license for the on-site business. (Ord. No. 1015 § 3, 2023)

The nonresidential component of a live/work development must be a use allowed within the applicable zone. (Ord. No. 1015 § 3, 2023)

No more than one person other than residents of the live/work unit shall be employed in the conduct of work, except that up to two additional employees may be allowed subject to the approval of a minor use permit. More than three persons other than residents of the live/work unit may be allowed, subject to conditional use permit approval, based on the additional finding that the employment will not adversely affect parking and traffic conditions in the immediate vicinity of the unit. (Ord. No. 1015 § 3, 2023)

Goods produced within the live/work unit may be sold on-premises if the sales activity is incidental to the primary production work within the unit. These provisions allow for open studio programs and gallery shows (Ord. No. 1015 § 3, 2023)

• A. Residential density. The number of live/work units on a site must comply with the residential density allowed in the base zone.

• B. Nonresidential area. A minimum of 60 percent of the ground level or a live/work development, or a minimum of 300 square feet, whichever is greater, must function predominantly as workspace. The work-space component of a live/work unit must be located on the ground floor. All floor area other than that reserved for living space must be reserved for and regularly used for workspace.

• C. Building design. The live/work development must comply with the applicable building type, building entrance, and façade types of the applicable zone.

• D. Nonresidential amenities. The ground floor of a live/work development must be designed to accommodate commercial or service uses as evidenced by the provision of flooring, interior storage, ventilation, and other physical improvements of the type commonly found in exclusively commercial or service facilities used for the same work activity.

• E. Separation and access. Access to each live/work unit must be provided from a public street or common access areas. The access to each unit must be clearly separate from other live/work units or other uses within the structure.

• F. Integration of living and working space. An area within a live/work unit that is designated as residential space is an integral part of the live/work unit. The living space shall be accessible to the nonresidential space using interior connection. Exterior access must comply with Division 23-11B-1 (Building Code).

• G. Mixed occupancy building. A building may contain live/work units and other nonresidential occupancies. The occupancies, other than live/work, must comply all applicable requirements for those uses, and proper occupancy separations must be provided between the live/work units and other occupancies, as determined by the building official.

(Ord. No. 1015 § 3, 2023)