(a) Application of Section. This section shall apply to the location, operation and maintenance of home occupations.
(b) Purpose. It is the purpose of this section to promote the public health, safety and general welfare through the regulation of home occupations. This section allows dwelling units to be used for limited nonresidential uses that are compatible with the residential character of the surrounding area. These requirements do not apply to a residence located in a business or manufacturing district.
(c) Home Occupations as Permitted Uses. A home occupation shall be a permitted use in a Residential District if a zoning permit is issued for it showing that the use complies with the other requirements of this Zoning Code and the following criteria:
(1) The use is conducted by a resident of the dwelling unit in which the home occupation is to be conducted.
(2) The external appearance of the dwelling unit shall not be changed.
(3) There shall not be any signs nor shall anything indicate the occupational use of the residential premises.
(4) Except for maintenance or replacement repairs, no structural alterations, construction or reconstruction of the premises to accommodate the home occupation use shall be permitted.
(5) There shall be no outside storage of any kind related to the use. Only commodities produced on the premises may be sold on the premises. No display of products shall be visible from the street.
(6) Not more than thirty percent of the gross floor area of the dwelling shall be devoted to the use, and the entrance to this space shall be from within the residence, not directly from the exterior.
(7) No equipment, process, material and/or chemical shall be used that creates noise, vibration, smoke, dust, odor, heat, glare, x-rays, radiation and/or electrical disturbances that are detectable from the outside of the dwelling unit.
(8) No additional parking demand shall be created, nor shall off-street parking space be provided (except for that space required for the dwelling unit by the district regulations).
(d) Home Occupations as Conditionally Permitted Uses. A person may apply for a conditional use permit for a home occupation in a Residential District if the use does not comply with the requirements of subsection (c) hereof. In addition to the other requirements of this Zoning Code, the following criteria shall be met for the issuance of such a permit for a home occupation:
(1) Limited sales of commodities or accessory items that are not produced on the premises may be permitted, provided that the products and their approximate quantities are specified in the application (or in an approved amended application) and are reasonably related to the home occupation.
(2) The home occupation may be permitted to be conducted in a structure accessory to the residence, provided that the application so specifies.
(3) No outside storage related to the home occupation shall be permitted (except for in an enclosed structure).
(4) Not more than thirty percent of the gross floor area of any residence, or fifty percent of any approved accessory structure, shall be devoted to the proposed home occupation, and the total area used in all structures shall not exceed 600 square feet.
(5) The external appearance of the structure in which the use is to be conducted shall not be changed and shall not have more than one sign. The sign shall be no larger than one square foot and shall be mounted flush to the wall of the structure. The entrance to the home occupation may be either directly from outside of, or from within, the dwelling unit or accessory structure.
(6) Except for maintenance or replacement repairs, there shall be no alterations, construction and/or reconstruction to accommodate the proposed use.
(7) No equipment, process, material and/or chemical shall be used that creates noise, vibration, smoke, dust, odor, heat, glare, x-rays, radiation and/or electrical disturbances that are detectable from the outside of the structure.
(8) Not more than one additional off-street parking space shall be proposed in conjunction with the home occupation. This parking space shall not be located in any required front or side yards.
(e) Validity of Permits and Certificates. For the purposes of this Zoning Code, any permit and/or certificate issued under this Zoning Code for a home occupation shall cease to be valid when the permit holder moves to another residence, dies, is incarcerated for more than one year, vacates the premises for more than one year or discontinues the use for more than one year. In addition, the permit shall be invalidated immediately upon the conduct of the home occupation in any manner not approved by the permit.
(Ord. 186-91. Passed 10-15-92.)