Watsonville Municipal Code Part 11 Home Occupation Permit

The purpose of this chapter is to provide opportunities for limited commercial and business activities within the City’s residential neighborhoods; provided, that such activities are compatible with, and do not detract from, the peace, quiet, character, and quality of the City’s residential areas.

(Ord. 1156-03 C-M, eff. May 22, 2003)

No home occupation shall be permitted without the prior issuance of a Home Occupation Permit. Applications for a Home Occupation Permit shall be made upon forms furnished by the Community Development Department, and shall be subject to review and approval by the Zoning Administrator. A Home Occupation Permit shall not be required for any activity or operation with an annual income of less than Five Hundred and no/100ths ($500.00) Dollars, or one for which a business license is not required.

(Ord. 1156-03 C-M, eff. May 22, 2003)

Applications for a Home Occupation Permit shall be evaluated and investigations conducted using the following criteria, which shall also be incorporated as minimum conditions of approval:

(a) The home occupation shall be compatible with, and secondary to, the use of the premises as a residential dwelling unit;

(b) The home occupation shall be conducted only by a resident of the dwelling unit in which it occurs. One additional member of the immediate family may assist with the home occupation if he or she also resides at the premises in which the home occupation occurs. No one other than the residents of the dwelling unit shall be employed in the conduct of the home occupation;

(c) No more than one room, or the equivalent of twenty (20%) percent of the ground floor area of the dwelling unit, whichever is greater, shall be used to conduct the home occupation;

(d) The home occupation shall be conducted entirely within the dwelling unit or existing accessory structure; provided, however, that the home occupation does not detract from any required living, parking, or storage areas. No building additions or new structures shall be permitted in order to accommodate a home occupation;

(e) There shall be no change in the outside appearance of the dwelling or premises, or any visible evidence of the conduct of a home occupation;

(f) Raw materials, intermediate and finished materials, or products, equipment, parts, appliances, vehicles, and by-products of the home occupation shall be stored indoors and shall not be visible from outside the premises;

(g) Signs used in the home occupation shall comply with Chapter 14-21;

(h) The home occupation shall not be conducted between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m.;

(i) The home occupation shall not generate additional pedestrian or vehicular traffic; shall not require additional off-street parking spaces for clients or customers; and shall not involve the use of commercial vehicles with six (6) or more wheels for pickup or delivery of materials to or from the premises;

(j) The home occupation shall not use more than one motor vehicle. Such vehicle shall be owned by the resident of the dwelling, shall be parked in an adequate off-street parking area, and shall not exceed three-quarter (3/4) ton in size;

(k) The home occupation may provide on-site sales and/or service; provided, that the following criteria are met:

(1) The sales and/or service shall not necessitate a need for additional on-site parking;

(2) Sales and/or services to clients shall be provided on an appointment only basis;

(3) No more than two (2) clients per hour and sixteen (16) clients per day shall be permitted on site; and

(4) No displays of merchandise and/or services rendered on site shall be directly visible from outside the premises;

(l) The home occupation, in combination with the residential use of the dwelling, shall not cause a substantial increase in the use of any one or more public utilities including, but not limited to, water, sewer, gas, electricity, and garbage collection;

(m) The home occupation shall dispose of all waste materials or by-products on a regular, timely basis, in conformance with applicable garbage collection, Fire Department, and environmental health regulations;

(n) The home occupation shall be limited to the use of hand powered and/or electrically powered tools or devices on the premises. Electrically powered tools or devices shall not exceed one horsepower capacity or equivalent;

(o) The home occupation shall not utilize any equipment or process which creates noise, vibrations, glare, fumes, odor, smoke, hazardous materials, audio or visual electrical interference in a radio and/or television receiver, or line voltage fluctuations, any of which are detectable to the normal senses at the property line;

(p) Automotive or vehicular production, repair, bodywork, detailing or modification, and parts assembly, maintenance, repair, or installation shall not be permitted as a home occupation; and

(q) The home occupation shall be limited to one type of occupation per residence.

The Zoning Administrator is hereby authorized to add to, modify, or delete home occupation conditions of approval as necessitated by a specific permit application. The Zoning Administrator, if necessary, is further authorized, but is not required, to call a public hearing and/or refer a specific home occupation application to the Planning Commission for review and final determination. Such referral shall be made in writing.

(Ord. 1156-03 C-M, eff. May 22, 2003)

Any interested person shall have the right to appeal any ruling, order or action under this chapter pursuant to the provisions for appeals contained in Part 11 of Chapter 14-10.

(Ord. 1156-03 C-M, eff. May 22, 2003)

Home occupations may be subject to periodic review by the Zoning Administrator to ensure compliance with the Home Occupation Permit.

(Ord. 1156-03 C-M, eff. May 22, 2003)

Home Occupation Permits shall be granted personally to the applicant only, and shall not be transferable to any successor or assign.

(Ord. 1156-03 C-M, eff. May 22, 2003)

Home Occupation Permits may be revoked by the Zoning Administrator and/or Planning Commission for violation of any of the conditions of approval, provisions of this Code, or for substantial changes in size, scale, or type of occupation. A public hearing may be held to consider a permit revocation in accordance with Part 10 of Chapter 14-10. The public hearing shall be noticed according to procedures contained in Part 9 of Chapter 14-10.

(Ord. 1156-03 C-M, eff. May 22, 2003)

Where there is a conflict between the regulations of this chapter and the regulations of any other section of this Code, the regulations of other sections shall prevail where the regulations of any other section are more restrictive.

(Ord. 1156-03 C-M, eff. May 22, 2003)