(A) General. Some types of work can be conducted at home with little or no effect on the surrounding neighborhood. The home occupation regulations of this section are intended to permit residents to engage in home occupations, while ensuring that home occupations will not be a detriment to the character and livability of the surrounding area. The regulations require that home occupations (an accessory use) remain subordinate to the principal residential use of the property and that the viability of the residential use is maintained. Zoning permits shall be required for all home occupations.
(B) Where allowed. Home occupations that comply with the regulations of this section shall be allowed as an accessory use to any allowed residential or agricultural principal use.
(C) Allowed uses. The home occupation regulations of this section establish performance standards rather than detailed lists of allowed home occupations. Uses that comply with all of the standards of this section will be allowed as home occupations unless they are specifically prohibited.
(D) Prohibited uses.
(1) Vehicle/equipment repair, rental, or sales. Any type of repair, rental, sales, or assembly of vehicles or equipment with internal combustion engines (such as autos, motorcycles, scooters, outboard marine engines, lawn mowers, chain saws, and other small engines) or of large appliances (such as washing machines, dryers, and refrigerators) or any other work related to automobiles and their parts is prohibited as a home occupation in the RSL, RSM, MHS, and MHP Zoning Districts, unless these types of repairs, rentals, or sales take place in an enclosed structure and pose no noise or safety concerns.
(2) Restaurants. Restaurants and food service establishments are not allowed as home occupations. Food service for bed and breakfasts shall be allowed under this chapter.
(3) Employee dispatch centers. Dispatch centers, where employees come to the site to be dispatched to other locations, are not allowed as home occupations.
(4) Animal care or boarding. Animal care or boarding facilities (including animal hospitals, kennels, stables, and all other types of animal boarding and care facilities) are not allowed as home occupations in the RSL, RSM, MHS, and MHP residential zoning districts.
(5) Medical offices or clinics. Medical offices and medical clinics are not allowed as home occupations in the RSL, RSM, MHS, and MHP residential zoning districts. This includes doctors’ offices, dentists’ offices, psychologists’ offices, hospitals, and all other medical care facilities. The prohibition shall not be interpreted as preventing medical practitioners from seeing patients in the practitioner’s home on an emergency basis.
(6) Funeral homes. Funeral homes and funeral service activities are not allowed as home occupations.
(7) Barber shops, beauty shops, and nail salons. Barber and beauty shops with more than one chair are not allowed as a home occupation.
(8) Dancing schools. Dancing schools are not allowed as home occupations.
(E) Employees. Only one full-time or one part-time employee, who is not a full-time resident of the home where the home occupation is located, is allowed. The home occupation may have other employees who are not working at the residence, but work at other off-site locations, if applicable. For the purpose of this provision, the term NONRESIDENT EMPLOYEE includes an employee, business partner, co-owner, or other person affiliated with the home occupation, who does not live at the site, but who visits the site as a part of the home occupation.
(F) Resident operator. The operator of a home occupation shall be a full-time resident of the dwelling unit.
(G) Customers. Customers may visit the site of a home occupation only during the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., with no more than an average of one customer or client per hour being allowed.
(H) Floor area. No more than 25% of the total floor area of the dwelling unit may be used to house a home occupation, except that bed and breakfasts allowed by this chapter are exempt from this provision. Up to 1,000 square feet of an accessory structure, such as a garage, may be used for a home occupation.
(I) Outdoor activities. All activities and storage areas associated with home occupations must be conducted in completely enclosed structures.
(J) Exterior appearance. There shall be no visible evidence of the conduct of a home occupation when viewed from the street right-of-way or from an adjacent lot. Signs for a home occupation are expressly prohibited. There may be no change in the exterior appearance of the dwelling unit that houses a home occupation or the site upon which it is conducted that will make the dwelling appear less residential in nature or function. Examples of such prohibited alterations include construction of parking lots, paving of required setbacks, adding additional entrances to the dwelling unit, or adding signs or commercial-like exterior lighting.
(K) Operational impacts. No home occupation or equipment used in conjunction with a home occupation may cause odor, vibration, noise, electrical interference, or fluctuation in voltage that is perceptible beyond the lot line of the lot upon which the home occupation is conducted. No hazardous substances may be used or stored in conjunction with a home occupation.
(L) Trucks. Not more than one truck, truck cab, or van used in conjunction with a home occupation may be parked at the site of the home occupation in any RSL, MHS, or MHP Zoning District. No semi-truck trailers or full trailers shall be allowed in these zoning districts.
(M) Deliveries. No more than four deliveries or pick-ups of supplies or products associated with home occupations are allowed between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.
(N) Sales. No article, product, or service may be sold in connection with a home occupation, other than those produced on the premises or comprise 25% or less of the gross receipts.
(Ord. 2012-06, § 6.5.11, passed 10-18-2012; Ord. 2013-02, passed 4-18-2013)