Chapter 17.59
HOME OCCUPATIONS
Sections:
17.59.010 Home occupation defined.
17.59.015 Application for home occupation uses and appeals.
17.59.020 Permitted occupations.
17.59.030 Participation restricted.
17.59.040 Floor area limitation.
17.59.050 Advertising and appearance restricted.
17.59.060 Accessory building use prohibited.
17.59.070 Retail sales prohibited.
17.59.080 Traffic and parking restricted.
17.59.090 Noise and interference prohibited.
17.59.100 Prohibited occupations.
17.59.010 Home occupation defined.
A home occupation means any endeavor conducted for financial gain or profit in a dwelling unit where the endeavor is not generally characteristic of activities for which dwelling units are intended or designed, provided, that endeavors where the only activities include the receipt of mail, the use of a telephone, the occasional commercial delivery of goods and materials not inconsistent with such vehicular traffic in residential neighborhoods, are not considered home occupations subject to permitting requirements under this title. To be defined as a home occupation, the occupation or activity:
(1) Must be carried on entirely within a residence by the occupants.
(2) Must be clearly incidental to the use of the residence as a dwelling.
(3) Must not change the residential character of the dwelling.
(4) Must be conducted in such a manner as to not give any outward appearance nor manifest any characteristic of a business in the ordinary meaning of the term.
(5) Must not infringe upon the right of the neighboring residents to enjoy a peaceful occupancy of their homes for which purpose the residential zone was created and primarily intended.
An occupation which does not meet this definition or which is incapable of or does not comply with the general requirements of this title shall not be deemed a home occupation. (Ord. 948 § 2 (part), 1995).
17.59.015 Application for home occupation uses and appeals.
An application for a home occupation use shall be submitted to the clerk’s department for consideration. Such uses may be permitted by the individual(s) designated to review the applications subject to the provisions of this chapter. Any party aggrieved by a decision rendered by the individual(s) reviewing the application may appeal the decision to the hearing examiner, subject to the provisions of Chapter 19.11, Appeals. (Ord. 1546 § 6, 2020: Ord. 1066 § 1, 2000: Ord. 948 § 2 (part), 1995).
17.59.020 Permitted occupations.
Permissible home occupations include but are not limited to the following:
(1) Accountant and tax consultants;
(2) Artists and writers;
(3) Architects and draftsmen;
(4) Dressmakers, seamstresses and tailors;
(5) Music or dance teachers;
(6) Catering and party decorators;
(7) Office facilities used in conjunction with business activities conducted off the premises, e.g., clergymen, salesmen, brokers, professional persons, etc.;
(8) Tutoring;
(9) Massage parlors;
(10) Small appliance repair.
The above home occupations are limited to one client at a time. (Ord. 948 § 2 (part), 1995).
17.59.030 Participation restricted.
No person other than members of the family residing on the premises shall be engaged in such occupation. (Ord. 948 § 2 (part), 1995).
17.59.040 Floor area limitation.
The use of the dwelling unit for the home occupation shall be clearly incidental and subordinate to its use for residential purposes by its occupants, and not more than thirty percent of the floor area of the dwelling unit shall be used in the conduct of the home occupation. (Ord. 948 § 2 (part), 1995).
17.59.050 Advertising and appearance restricted.
There shall be no change in the outside appearance of the building or premises, or other visible evidence of the conduct of such home occupation other than one sign, not exceeding one square foot in area, nonilluminated, and mounted flat against the wall of the principal building. (Ord. 948 § 2 (part), 1995).
17.59.060 Accessory building use prohibited.
No home occupation shall be conducted in any accessory building. (Ord. 948 § 2 (part), 1995).
17.59.070 Retail sales prohibited.
There shall be no retail sales of merchandise in connection with such home occupation. (Ord. 948 § 2 (part), 1995).
17.59.080 Traffic and parking restricted.
No traffic shall be generated by such home occupation in greater volumes than would normally be expected in a residential neighborhood, and any need for parking generated by the conduct of such home occupation shall be met off the street and other than in a required front yard. (Ord. 948 § 2 (part), 1995).
17.59.090 Noise and interference prohibited.
No equipment or process shall be used in such home occupation which creates noise, vibration, glare, fumes, odors or electrical interference detectable to the normal senses off the lot, if the occupation is conducted in a single-family residence, or outside the dwelling unit if conducted in other than a single-family residence. In the case of electrical interference, no equipment or process shall be used which creates visual or audible interference in any radio or television receivers off the premises, or causes fluctuations in line voltage off the premises. (Ord. 948 § 2 (part), 1995).
17.59.100 Prohibited occupations.
Prohibited home occupations include but are not limited to the following:
(1) Barber shops;
(2) Beauty parlors;
(3) Kennels;
(4) Stables;
(5) Animal hospitals;
(6) Pet grooming;
(7) Real estate offices;
(8) Restaurants;
(9) Medical and dental clinics;
(10) Vehicle repair, painting, servicing and renting;
(11) Welding and metal work;
(12) Cabinet, carpentry, and paint shops;
(13) Mortuaries;
(14) Private or nursery schools;
(15) Private clubs. (Ord. 948 § 2 (part), 1995).