Are Home Businesses Allowed?

Maybe! Certain home-based businesses are allowed with a business license. Others are allowed with a business license and if certain conditions are met.  Some businesses are strictly prohibited.

Guidelines

1. No more than two occupants of the home may be engaged in the home business.
2. Off-site employees may not report for work at the residence.
3. The use of the home as a business shall be clearly incidental and subordinate to its use as a residence.
4. No mechanical equipment or operation shall be used which creates or makes dust, odor, vibration or other effects detectable at the  property line.
5. No products shall be sold on the premises except artist’s originals.
6. The products produced shall not be displayed on the property in such a manner to be visible outside of the residence.
7. Materials shall not be stored out-of-doors.
8. The home may not be remodeled to change the external appearance into a commercial appearing structure.
9. Visitors & customers shall not exceed one person per hour and eight per day. Deliveries shall not exceed one per week.
   (See section 305-201 of the Zoning Code)

What Businesses are Prohibited?

The following uses are expressly prohibited as home occupations:

• Ambulance Service
• Ammunition Reloading
• Boarding House, Bed & Breakfast Hotel, Time Share Condominium
• Carpentry, Cabinet Makers
• Ceramics w/ a Kiln of 6ft or Greater
• Churches, Religious Instruction
• Health Salons, Gyms, Dance Studios, Aerobic Exercise Studios
• Medical, Dental, Chiropractic, or Veterinary Clinics
• Mortician, Hearse Services
• Palm Reading, Fortune Telling
• Private Clubs
• Repair, or reconditioning, of boats or recreation vehicles
• Restaurants or Taverns
• Retails Sale from Site
• Storage, Repair or Reconditioning of Major household Appliances
• Storage, Repair, or Reconditioning of Motorized Vehicles or Large Equipment
• Tattoo Service
• Tow Truck Services
• Veterinary Uses, including boarding
• Welding Services
  (See section 305-202 of the Zoning Code)

Are There Any Other Restrictions?

All businesses require a business license and must adhere to specific guidelines intended to reduce the impact on the surrounding residential neighborhood. For example, your home cannot be remodeled or constructed to appear like a commercial structure and “the use of the dwelling for the home occupation shall be clearly incidental and subordinate to its use for residential purposes.” Certain businesses have specific limitations and restrictions.
(See Title III Article 8 of the Zoning Code)