Home Occupations

The county’s zoning code distinguishes between three types of home occupations. It permits all three types of home occupations by right, subject to use-specific standards (Appendix A §2-1).

It distinguishes between low- and high-intensity residential home occupations. Both low-intensity “home occupations” and high-intensity “home-based businesses” must comply with location and space, employee, dwelling modification, sign, parking and traffic, nuisance, and customer/client visitation standards (Appendix A §§9-1 & 9-2). Both sections include lists of customarily permitted uses, but does not prohibit unlisted uses (Appendix A §§9-1.9 & 9-2.12). “Home-based businesses” permit non-resident employees, signs, and customer/client visitation, subject to listed performance standards, uses which the “home occupations” designation prohibits.

It permits higher-intensity “rural home occupations” in rural residential districts. “Rural home occupations” must comply with location and space, dwelling modification, nuisance, display and sale, parking, sign, and storage standards (Appendix A §9-3).