The regulations of this Code are designed to protect and maintain the residential character of established neighborhoods while recognizing that certain professional and limited business activities, when properly limited and regulated, can take place in a residential structure without changing the character of either the neighborhood or the residential structure. Any question of whether a particular home occupation is permitted shall be determined by the Zoning Administrator pursuant to the provisions of this Code.
(A) Performance standards. In addition to complying with setbacks, height restrictions, parking requirements and all other regulations of the district in which it is located, no home occupation shall be permitted unless it complies with the following standards and criteria.
(1) No person other than members of the immediate family occupying the dwelling unit shall be engaged in the home occupation.
(2) 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 25% of the floor area of the dwelling unit or 500 square feet, whichever is less, shall be used in the conduct of the home occupation.
(3) No products, stock or goods shall be displayed or sold on the premises.
(4) There shall be no change in the outside appearance of the dwelling or premises or other visible evidence of the conduct of a home occupation to adjoining residences or to any street other than the display of one non-illuminated sign, not exceeding two square feet in area and mounted flat against the wall of the principal building.
(5) No home occupation shall be conducted in any accessory building except an attached garage.
(6) Equipment and materials used in a home occupation shall not be stored outdoors.
(7) The traffic generated by a home occupation shall not exceed the volume, type and peaking that would normally be expected in a residential neighborhood.
(8) Any need for parking generated by the conduct of a home occupation shall be met on-site and in a manner that does not create a nonresidential appearance by reason of excessive paving, especially in the front yard and the side yard adjoining the street in the case of a corner lot. It thereby is the intent of this Code that not more than one additional parking space generally be permitted in the front yard or street side yard, provided that the Zoning Administrator may allow up to three spaces to be provided in the case of exceptionally large properties that substantially exceed the customary lot size in the neighborhood, or if the property is set back from the street by 40 feet or more. Inability to meet this criterion shall be deemed a finding that the home occupation is too large or unsuited for that specific residential property.
(9) The home occupation shall not cause, involve or result in the use of commercial vehicles for deliveries to or from the premises, excluding a vehicle not to exceed three-quarter (3/4) ton capacity registered to the operator of the home occupation.
(10) No equipment or process shall be used in a home occupation that creates noise, vibration, glare, heat, humidity, fumes, smoke, dust or other particulate matter, or odorous matter that is detectable to the normal senses off the lot if the occupation is conducted in a detached single-family residence, or outside the dwelling unit if conducted in other than a detached single-family residence.
(11) Mechanical, electrical or other equipment used in the home occupation shall not be permitted to cause visual, electrical, magnetic or audible interference, or fluctuations in line voltage, to affect any radio, television, computer or telecommunication equipment on other premises.
(B) Permitted home occupations. The following home occupations shall be permitted subject to the limitations set forth by this Code:
(1) Care for six or fewer children by a resident of the dwelling unit who is not the parent, guardian or custodian of the children, for periods of less than 24 hours per day per child on a regular basis, usually for compensation and that is not required to be licensed by the State of Iowa;
(2) Providing instruction to not more than four students at a time. In the case of swimming instruction, instructions may be only given between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10:00 a.m. through 4:00 p.m. on Saturdays, and not more than four students may be on the premises at any one time with a maximum of eight students per hour;
(3) Office facilities for accountants, architects, brokers, engineers, lawyers, physician, surgeon, dentists, engineers, lawyers and similar professionals including incidental emergency consultation or treatment by medical professionals but not general on-site client services, reception or meetings by any professional, it being the intent of this Code that the professional will meet clients or deliver services at the clients’ place of business or some other off-site location and not at the residence;
(4) Office facilities for individual insurance and real estate agents but not general on-site client services, reception or meetings, it being the intent of this Code that the agent will meet clients or deliver services at the clients’ residence, place of business or some other off-site location and not at the agent’s residence;
(5) Office facilities for ministers, priests, rabbis and other clergy including incidental counseling but not for group sessions or general counseling practice on-site;
(6) Office facilities for salespeople, sales representatives and manufacturer’s representatives when no retail or wholesale sales are made or transacted on the premises, and not including display or storage of any products, stock or goods;
(7) Studio of an artist, sculptor, writer or composer;
(8) Dressmaker or tailor; and
(9) Any use that is found by the Zoning Administrator to be a use similar to one of the named uses and to conform to the intent of this section.
(C) Prohibited home occupations. The following uses are specifically prohibited as home occupations:
(1) Child care centers for seven or more children or otherwise requiring licensing by the state;
(2) Beautician, hair stylist or barber;
(3) Pet boarding, grooming or training; commercial stables, whether for riding or boarding; or kennels;
(4) Repair or maintenance of vehicles, appliances, motorcycles, lawn mowers or garden equipment, snow blowers, small engines, radios, televisions or other electronics. Rebuilding, repair or reconstruction of more than two vehicles per year, whether owned by the occupant or not, shall be construed to be an illegal home occupation;
(5) Brokerages or offices for multiple insurance and real estate agents, or any office engaging employees who are not family members, that hold meetings on premise, have clients come to the premises or display or store products, stock or goods on the premises;
(6) Dance instruction; and
(7) Photographic studios.