Hanford City Zoning Code
CHAPTER 17
78 HOME OCCUPATION PERMITS
§ 17.78.010 Purpose.
The provisions of this chapter provide for the conduct of home occupations that are incidental to and compatible with surrounding residential uses. A home occupation represents a commercial activity by the occupant of the dwelling.
(Ord. 17-04, 2017; Ord. 24-11, 12/3/2024)
§ 17.78.020 Permit required.
Home occupations shall not commence without first obtaining a home occupation permit, except as provided below:
A.
A home occupation permit shall not be required for an in-home educational activity, including, but not limited to, music lessons, academic tutoring, swimming lessons, or religious instruction, provided that no more than five students are present at any one time, and the activity complies with all of the operating standards in Section 17.78.050.
(Ord. 17-04, 2017; Ord. 24-11, 12/3/2024)
§ 17.78.030 Application.
Applications for a home occupation permit shall be filed and processed pursuant to the applicable sections of Chapter 17.70.
(Ord. 17-04, 2017; Ord. 24-11, 12/3/2024)
§ 17.78.040 Prohibited home occupation uses.
A.
The following uses are, without limitation, examples of land uses that are not incidental to nor compatible with residential activities in residential zones, and are prohibited as home occupations:
1.
Barbershop, hair salon, nail care, massage therapy, or day spa;
2.
Fortune telling;
3.
Kennel or animal boarding;
4.
Laboratory, general or medical;
5.
Mini-warehouse or self-storage facility;
6.
Motor vehicle repair or service, minor or major;
7.
Office; medical, dental, or optometry;
8.
Pet grooming;
9.
Repair shop, large appliance or equipment;
10.
Specialty construction or trade service where construction activities take place at the site;
11.
Tattooing or body art;
12.
Any other use determined by the Community Development Director to be not incidental nor compatible with residential activities.
B.
A home occupation permit may be denied if the Community Development Director finds that land use proposed for a home occupation is listed in this section, or that there is substantial evidence that the land use will create a significant impact to the environment.
(Ord. 17-04, 2017; Ord. 24-11, 12/3/2024)
§ 17.78.050 Operating standards.
A.
A home occupation shall comply with all of the following operating standards:
1.
A home occupation shall not alter the appearance of the dwelling unit as seen from any public right-of-way.
2.
There shall be no displays on the premises.
4.
There shall be no advertising in any publication, on the internet, or otherwise, that identifies the home occupation by street address.
5.
The home occupation shall be confined to one room located within the dwelling. A portion of a garage or carport may be used for home occupation purposes if it does not prevent the garage or carport from being used for parking of vehicles. Horticulture activities may be conducted outdoors within the rear of the lot only.
6.
Only one vehicle no larger than a three-quarter ton truck may be used by the occupant directly or indirectly in connection with a home occupation.
7.
The home occupation shall not encroach into any required parking, setback or open space areas.
8.
There shall be no use of mechanical equipment not recognized as being part of a normal household or hobby use.
9.
Activities conducted and equipment or material used shall not change the fire safety or occupancy classifications of the premises.
10.
Utility consumption shall not exceed normal residential usage.
11.
The home occupation shall not create or cause noise, dust, light, vibration, odor, gas, fumes, toxic/hazardous materials, smoke, glare or electrical interference or other hazards or nuisances to an extent that would exceed the conditions of normal residential activities.
12.
Only the occupants of the dwelling may be engaged in the home occupation, except as specifically modified by other sections of this title.
13.
The home occupation shall not involve the use of commercial vehicles for delivery of materials to or from the premises at a frequency of more than three deliveries per week of a package or packages weighing less than 100 pounds.
14.
The home occupation shall not generate pedestrian or vehicular traffic in excess of that customarily associated with the land use district in which it is located.
15.
No home occupation shall commence until a current business license is obtained, pursuant to the municipal code.
16.
No more than one home occupation shall be located within a dwelling unit at one time.
17.
If the home occupation is to be conducted on rental property, the property owner's written authorization for the proposed use shall be obtained prior to the submittal for a home occupation permit.
18.
No space shall be rented out to others in association with a home occupation.
B.
A home occupation permit may be denied if the Community Development Director finds that there is a failure or inability to meet one or more of the operating standards of this section.
(Ord. 17-04, 2017; Ord. 24-11, 12/3/2024)
§ 17.78.060 Life of permits and extensions of time.
The initial life and subsequent extensions of time for home occupation permits are stated in Sections 17.70.240 and 17.70.250.
(Ord. 17-04, 2017; Ord. 24-11, 12/3/2024)
§ 17.78.070 No transferability.
A.
Notwithstanding Section 17.70.210, if property ownership changes on property subject to a valid home occupation permit, the home occupation permit shall not be transferable to a new property owner.
B.
If the holder of a valid home occupation permit relocates to another site, the home occupation shall not transfer to the new site. A new home occupation permit shall be approved before the use may continue at the new site.
(Ord. 17-04, 2017; Ord. 24-11, 12/3/2024)
§ 17.78.080 Revocation.
A home occupation permit may be revoked or modified in accordance with Section 17.70.230 if any one of the following findings are made:
A.
The home occupation permit was obtained by misrepresentation or fraud;
B.
The condition of the premises, or the area of which it is a part, has changed so that the home occupation is no longer justified under the meaning and intent of this title;
C.
One or more of the operating standards of the home occupation permit have not been met;
D.
The home occupation violates federal, state, or local statute, ordinance, law, or regulation.
(Ord. 17-04, 2017; Ord. 24-11, 12/3/2024)