Skip to content

Waterford · Building on your lot

Running a business from home in Waterford

Home occupations need a permit and use at most 500 square feet or 50% of the home; only residents may work there.

Ask about running a business from home in Waterford See coverage

Key points

  • Home businesses: Home occupations need a permit and use at most 500 square feet or 50% of the home; only residents may work there.

Each rule below links to the section of the Waterford Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Waterford's code says

Waterford code What Waterford's code adds
Space used
  • No more than 500 square feet or 50% of the home's area.
    Applies: Inside a single-family home only. Not in a required garage or parking area, accessory structure or yard.
    § 17.53.030 · code text
    A home occupation shall be conducted within a maximum of five hundred square feet or no more than fifty percent of the area within a single-family residence, and shall not be permitted in any required garage or parking area, accessory structure or within any yard space.
Customer visits
  • No more than 2 students at any one time.
    Applies: For individual music and swimming lessons taught by the resident, with no noise that disturbs neighbors.
    § 17.53.030 · code text
    A home occupation may include individual music instruction and swimming lessons, taught by the resident of the home, when no more than two students are on the premises at any one time and this service activity does not create any noise that disturbs adjacent residences.
Employees
  • None. Only residents may work or report for work at the site.
    Also applies to independent contractors.
    § 17.53.030 · code text
    No person, other than a resident of the dwelling shall be employed on-site, or report for work at the site, in the conduct of the home occupation. This prohibition applies also to independent contractors.
Permit
  • A home occupation permit from the planning director and a city business license.
    Applies: For homes in a residential (R) district used only as homes.
    § 17.53.020 · code text
    Home occupations shall be permitted only after a home occupation permit has been issued by the planning director and a business license secured from the city finance department.
  • A conditional use permit from the planning commission.
    Applies: For a home occupation that does not meet the standard requirements and limits.
    § 17.53.020 · code text
    A home occupation which varies from the requirements and limitations of this section shall be required to obtain a conditional use permit from the planning commission.
Businesses not allowed
  • animal hospital or kennel; vehicle repair and/or body shop; manufacturing, including cabinet or wood shops; barber shop, beauty shop or other personal service establishment; business, dance, or music school; campground or RV park; contractor's storage yard; medical, doctor or dentist office; fuel wood sales and/or processing; guest lodging; laundry; mortuary; outdoor sales or repair; private club; repair shop or service establishment; retail sales or on-site service business; restaurant or bar; video arcades or amusement centers
    § 17.53.030 · code text
    In no event shall a home occupation be interpreted to include an animal hospital or kennel; vehicle repair and/or body shop; manufacturing, including cabinet or wood shops; barber shop, beauty shop or other personal service establishment; business, dance, or music school; campground or RV park; contractor's storage yard; medical, doctor or dentist office; fuel wood sales and/or processing; guest lodging; laundry; mortuary; outdoor sales or repair; private club; repair shop or service establishment; retail sales or on-site service business; restaurant or bar; video arcades or amusement centers.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Can I run a business from my home in Waterford?

Home occupations need a permit and use at most 500 square feet or 50% of the home; only residents may work there.

General information, not legal advice.

Ask about a specific Waterford property

Ask GoCodebook how Waterford's running a business from home rules apply to your situation and get an answer that cites the section.

Ask your question

More on building on your lot in Waterford

All building on your lot rules in Waterford

Fences and walls in Waterford

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures in Waterford

Pets, chickens and bees in Waterford

Noise and construction hours in Waterford

Waterford Municipal Code — full text