A home occupation is permitted accessory to any dwelling unit (except manufactured housing) in accordance with the following requirements:
1. The home occupation must be clearly incidental to the residential use of the dwelling and must not change the essential residential character of the dwelling.
2. The use shall employ no more than one (1) person who is not a resident of the dwelling.
3. A home occupation housed within the dwelling shall occupy no more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the total floor area of the dwelling.
4. There shall be no visible outside display of stock in trade which is sold on the premises.
5. There shall be no outdoor storage or visible evidence of equipment or materials used in the home occupation, excepting equipment or materials of a type and quantity that could reasonably be associated with the principal residential use.
6. Operation of the home occupation shall not be visible from any dwelling on an adjacent lot, nor from a street.
7. Only vehicles used primarily as passenger vehicles will be permitted in connection with the conduct of the home occupation.
8. The home occupation shall not utilize mechanical, electrical, or other equipment which produces noise, electrical or magnetic interference, vibration, heat, glare, or other nuisances outside the dwelling or accessory structure housing the home occupation.
9. Home occupations shall be limited to those uses which do not draw clients to the dwelling on a regular basis.
10. No business identification or advertising signs are permitted.
11. All home occupations shall require a zoning permit. Permits are not transferable from person to person or from address to address.
12. Hobbies shall not be subject to the requirements of this section unless such hobby generates a gross yearly income of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) or more.
13. There may be one (1) annual inspection by the city staff to ensure the home occupation is operating within the requirements specified by this chapter. The city staff shall have the right at any time, upon reasonable request, to enter and inspect the premises covered by the zoning permit for safety and compliance purposes.
14. In no case shall a home occupation be open to the public at times earlier than 8:00 a.m. nor later than 7:00 p.m.
15. No more than one (1) home occupation shall be permitted within any single dwelling unit.
16. There shall be no deliveries to or from a home occupation with a vehicle larger than a three-quarter ton truck.
17. No home occupation shall cause an increase in the use of any public utilities or services (water, sewer, garbage collection, etc.) so that the combined total use for dwelling unit and home occupation purposes exceeds the average for residences in the neighborhood.
18. Home occupations shall comply with all local, state, and federal regulations pertinent to the activity pursued, and the requirements of or permission granted by this section shall not be construed as an exemption from such regulations.
19. Any non-conforming home occupation shall be discontinued or comply with all applicable provisions of this section within sixty (60) days after the home occupation first became non-conforming.
20. The following uses are permitted in a home occupation:
a. Architectural, drafting, and graphic services;
b. Art restoration;
c. Art/photography studio;
d. Beauty salons;
e. Consulting offices;
f. Contracting offices;
g. Data processing;
h. Dressmaking, sewing, and tailoring;
i. Electronic assembly and repair;
j. Engineering services;
k. Financial planning and investment services;
l. Flower arranging;
m. Gardening and landscaping services;
n. Home catering and food preparation businesses, subject to the approval of the Catawba County Health Department;
o. Home crafts;
p. House cleaning services;
q. Insurance sales broker;
r. Interior design;
s. Jewelry making and repair;
t. Locksmith;
u. Mail order (not including retail sales from the site);
v. Real estate sales broker;
w. General sales representative;
x. Tutoring;
y. Furniture upholstering.
21. The following uses are prohibited in a home occupation:
a. Appliance and small engine repair;
b. Auto repair, major and minor;
c. Auto painting;
d. Carpentry/cabinet making;
e. Dance studios;
f. Furniture construction;
g. Machine shops;
h. Rental businesses;
i. Tow truck services;
j. Welding shops;
k. Other uses not listed as a permitted use. (Ord. of 12-7-04; No. 37-02; Ord. of 8-7-06; No. 18-06)