Eureka City Zoning Code

The intent of Eureka City is to encourage a majority of business activities to be conducted in the Business and Commercial Zone. However, business activities may be conducted within or immediately adjacent to a residence on a limited basis if such activities comply with standards of this Chapter. All home occupations should be secondary and incidental to the residential use. The use should be conducted so that neighbors, under normal conditions, would not be aware of its existence. Home occupations are a temporary privilege approved under a Home Occupation Permit. The Permit may be revoked if a home occupation creates disruption and discord in the residential neighborhood in which it operates. 

HISTORY:

5-96, 06/1996

1-1999, 01/1999

1-2001, 01/2001

Ord. 2025-06-23, 6/23/2025

To assure compliance with provisions of this Chapter and to protect the character of residential areas within Eureka City, a Home Occupation Permit shall be obtained from the Planning Commission and approved by the City Council before residential property may be used for business purposes. The Planning Commission shall, upon application, first consider, and may recommend approval of a Home Occupation Permit. The Permit shall state the home occupation permitted, the conditions attached thereto, and any time limitations imposed thereon. The Permit shall not be recommended unless the Planning Commission is satisfied that the applicant will meet all the conditions required in this Chapter. The applicant, following City Council approval, agrees by signing the Permit, to comply with all specified conditions.

1. Occupations which meet the standards in Section 9.3 shall be defined as home occupations. In order to minimize traffic and off-street parking, and to avoid health and sanitation risks from the disposal of waste materials, medical, dental and related health professional offices are specifically excluded as home occupations.
2. Permitted home occupations include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following:
3. Artists, appraisers, authors, architectural (and drafting) services, advertising;
4. Barber and beauty shops;
5. Crafts and craft sales, consulting services, computer programming, and contractors;
6. Dance studios, data processing, desktop publishing, and direct sales. (v) educational services;
7. Family day care (for not more than six (6) children) and financial services;
8. Garden produce;
9. Mail order, and music (instrumental and voice) lessons;
10. Real estate services;
11. Sales.
12. The Planning Commission may recommend and the City Council may grant a Conditional Use Permit, and allow increases in intensity for home occupations provided each property owner within five hundred feet signs an affidavit and the affidavits are presented to the Eureka City Council in support of the increased intensity home occupation being proposed. 

HISTORY:

5-96, 06/1996

1-1999, 01/1999

1-2001, 01/2001

Ord. 2025-06-23, 6/23/2025

Each of the following conditions must be observed at all times by the holder of a Home Occupation Permit:

1. Persons who are not bona fide residents of the premises shall not be employed on said premises;
2. The Home Occupation shall be conducted wholly within the residence or approved structure on the premises;
3. The Home Occupation shall not occupy any area within the garage, unless the garage still functions for parking, or two off-street parking spaces for residential use are still available.
4. Commodities may be sold; However, it is the intent that such sales be limited to items produced on the premises, or items that are incidental to the service provided;
5. Only one vehicle may be used in association with the Home Occupation and shall be stored on the premises;
6. Signs shall not exceed 2 feet in height and 3 feet in width, or a total of 6 square feet. 

HISTORY:

5-96, 06/1996

1-1999, 01/1999

1-2001, 01/2001

Ord. 2025-06-23, 6/23/2025

1. Home occupations shall conform with all fire, building, plumbing, electrical, health, and sanitation codes, with all applicable State Laws, and with Eureka City Ordinances.
2. The home occupation shall not cause a demand for municipal or utility services or community facilities in excess of those usually and customarily provided for residential uses.
3. The home occupation shall not alter the residential character of the premises or unreasonably disturb the peace and quiet, including radio and television reception of the neighborhood by reason of color, design, materials, construction, lighting, sounds, noises, or vibrations.
4. Each special condition established by the Planning Commission and made of record in the home occupation Permit, as the Commission deems necessary to carry out the intent of this Chapter, shall be met.

HISTORY:

5-96, 06/1996

1-1999, 01/1999

1-2001, 01/2001

Ord. 2025-06-23, 6/23/2025

Home Occupation Permits shall be valid for one (1) year and may be renewed annually provided there have been no reported violations, unresolved complaints, or detrimental characteristics which may, in the judgement of the Planning Commission, require termination of said Permit. 

HISTORY:

5-96, 06/1996

1-1999, 01/1999

1-2001, 01/2001

Ord. 2025-06-23, 6/23/2025

A Home Occupation Permit is not a business license and the granting of said permit shall not relieve the permittee of any other license requirement of an applicable City, County, or State regulatory agency. 

HISTORY:

5-96, 06/1996

1-1999, 01/1999

1-2001, 01/2001

Ord. 2025-06-23, 6/23/2025

In the event of denial of any permit, or the revocation thereof, or of objection to the limitations placed thereon, appeal may be made to the Board of Adjustment in accordance with the provisions of Chapters 5 and 7 of the Eureka City General Plan. 

HISTORY:

5-96, 06/1996

1-1999, 01/1999

1-2001, 01/2001

Ord. 2025-06-23, 6/23/2025