Chapter 18.60
HOME OCCUPATIONS
Sections:
18.60.010 Purpose.
18.60.020 Requirements.
18.60.030 Exemptions.
18.60.040 Special home occupation permit.
18.60.050 Businesses not permitted as home occupations.
18.60.060 Termination.
18.60.010 Purpose.
The purpose of a home occupation is to allow certain activities to be undertaken for gain or profit within a dwelling or a building accessory to a dwelling in any zone in which dwellings are present. The home occupation shall be conducted by a resident of the dwelling unit and is to be conducted in such a manner that the residence shall not differ from its residential character either by the use of colors, materials, construction, lighting, signs or the emissions of sounds, noises, vibrations or odors, or result in traffic impacts that are inconsistent with the character of the area in which the home occupation is located. (Ord. 6141 § 1, 2007; Ord. 4229 § 2, 1987.)
18.60.020 Requirements.
Home occupations are required to have a business license as issued by the city, comply with all city codes and ordinances, and shall be consistent with the following provisions:
A. Only members of the immediate family residing on the premises and no more than one non-resident may be employed at any one time; provided, that home occupations with a nonresident employee shall provide off-street parking for the employee on site;
B. No mechanical equipment is used except such as is commonly or customarily used for domestic, household or personal purposes for a dwelling unit (or as deemed similar in terms of power, quantity, noise, emissions and type);
C. Not more than one-fourth of the floor area of any building is devoted to such occupation, except for bed and breakfasts;
D. That such occupation shall not require internal or external alteration or involve construction features not customarily found in a dwelling;
E. The home occupation shall not involve the use of personal commercial vehicles as defined in ACC 18.04.245 for the distribution of materials to or from the premises. Deliveries or pickups by commercial delivery services shall not apply toward this limitation provided such pickup or delivery does not exceed twice per day;
F. The conduct of any home occupation, including but not limited to the storage of goods and equipment, shall not reduce or render unusable areas provided for the required off-street parking. Additional parking is not allowed in order to conduct a home occupation, except what may be required through the issuance of a special home occupation permit pursuant to ACC 18.60.040;
G. Only one sign is permitted, not to exceed 18 inches by 24 inches in area, nonilluminated, and attached to a building, except that home occupations in commercial or industrial zones may have signs consistent with the applicable zoning district;
H. No display pertaining to the occupation, other than the one permitted sign, is visible from the street or adjacent residences;
I. No more animals are maintained on the premises than what may otherwise be permitted in the zone;
J. Except for bed and breakfasts, employee and customer visits shall be limited to the following hours of operation:
1. Employees from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturdays;
2. Customers from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday;
3. No employee or customer visits shall be permitted on Sundays or federal holidays;
K. Traffic generated by the home occupation shall be limited to a maximum of eight (two-way) client/delivery-related trips per day for those home occupations that operate by appointment only and do not have overlapping client visits. All other home occupations shall be limited to five (two-way) client/delivery trips per day;
L. Outdoor storage of materials, goods, products or equipment is not allowed;
M. The home occupation is to be conducted in such a manner that the residence shall not differ from its residential character either by the use of colors, materials, construction, lighting, signs, or the emissions of sounds, noises, vibrations or odors or result in traffic impacts inconsistent with the character of the area in which the home occupation is located. (Ord. 6141 § 1, 2007; Ord. 5897 § 21, 2005; Ord. 4229 § 2, 1987.)
18.60.030 Exemptions.
Garage sales, yard sales, bake sales, temporary home boutiques or bazaars for handcrafted items, parties for the display of domestic products, and other like uses do not need to comply with the requirements of ACC 18.60.020 as long as the use does not operate for more than 20 days in any one calendar year or in violation of any other provisions of the Auburn City Code. To qualify for this exemption, garage and yard sales must involve only the sale of household goods, none of which were purchased for the purpose of resale. (Ord. 6141 § 1, 2007; Ord. 4229 § 2, 1987.)
18.60.040 Special home occupation permit.
A. Special home occupation permits are required and must be granted by the hearing examiner for the following uses, even if the use meets all of the requirements of ACC 18.60.020(A) through (M), but in no case shall any home occupation meet less than 11 of the 13 requirements:
1. Building and construction contractor services, to include landscaping services (unless the home occupation is solely used for office purposes);
3. Music and dancing studios;
4. Craft classes;
5. Animal grooming;
6. Home occupations that can only meet 11 or 12 of the 13 requirements as outlined in ACC 18.60.020(A) through (M).
B. In considering applications for special home occupation permits, the hearing examiner shall consider the nature and conditions of all adjacent uses and structures. No such special home occupation permit shall be authorized by the hearing examiner unless the hearing examiner finds that:
1. The authorizing of such special home occupation permit will not be materially detrimental to the public welfare or injurious to the property in the zone or vicinity in which the property is located; and
2. The authorization of such special home occupation permit will be consistent with the spirit and purpose of this title.
C. In authorizing a special home occupation permit, the hearing examiner may impose such requirements and conditions with respect to location, installation, construction, maintenance and operation and extent of open spaces in addition to those expressly set forth in this title, as may be deemed necessary for the protection of other properties in the zone or vicinity and the public interest.
D. A public hearing shall be conducted on all applications for a special home occupation permit. The hearing shall be held in the same manner as provided in ACC 18.70.040. (Ord. 6141 § 1, 2007; Ord. 4304 § 1(44), 1988; Ord. 4229 § 2, 1987.)
18.60.050 Businesses not permitted as home occupations.
The following uses shall not be permitted as home occupations:
A. Automobile and motorcycle repair and body work (to include painting);
B. Automobile services, including stereo installation, car alarms and detailing;
C. Heavy equipment repair and maintenance. (Ord. 6141 § 1, 2007.)
18.60.060 Termination.
A. A home occupation may be terminated, revoked or suspended as provided for in and in accordance with the regulations for termination, revocation or suspension in ACC Title 5.
B. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter or of the city code, a home occupation may be immediately terminated if the city finds that the home occupation is being conducted in a manner which is detrimental to the public health or safety. In the event of such immediate termination, the operator of the home occupation shall be advised that he or she shall have the right to request a public hearing on the propriety of such immediate termination, which public hearing, if requested, shall be conducted in the same manner as provided in ACC 18.70.040. (Ord. 6141 § 1, 2007; Ord. 4229 § 2, 1987. Formerly 18.60.050.)