The purpose of this chapter is to provide a means to allow residents to conduct limited business in residential districts while keeping intact the residential character of neighborhoods. According to their nature, certain businesses are allowed outright as accessory uses to the primarily residential use while others are allowed only when licensed as home businesses.

(Ord. 578 §37, 1996).

In residential districts, uses that meet the following criteria shall be considered accessory uses and are allowed outright:

(1)

There are no customers or clients visiting the home for the conduct of business;

(2)

There are no retail sales physically conducted on the premises;

(3)

There is no physical manifestation of the fact that a business is being conducted on the premises (including signs);

(4)

There are no employees working on the premises; and,

(5)

The home occupation is clearly accessory to the residential use and does not occupy more than twenty-five percent of the total floor area of the dwelling or accessory structures, combined, in which the home occupation is conducted.

(Ord. 578 §38, 1996).

Home businesses that do not qualify as accessory uses according to the criteria in Section 17.68.020 of this chapter may be allowed as licensed home businesses if they meet the standards listed below:

(1)

No more than two employees other than members of the resident's family shall be permitted;

(2)

No more than thirty-five percent of the total floor area of the dwelling and accessory structures, combined in which the home occupation is conducted may be used for activities relating to home occupations;

(3)

There shall be no change in the outside appearance of the building or other visible evidence of conduct of the home business other than one nonreflective, indirectly illuminated sign of not more than two square feet attached to the side of the residence. No window displays shall be allowed;

(4)

In no way shall the home business be conducted in a manner which would cause the premises to differ from its residential character either by the use of colors, materials, construction, lighting, noise, glare, electrical or audio-visual interference, dust, smoke or vibrations;

(5)

No traffic shall be generated by a home business that would disturb or inconvenience nearby residences; and, any need for parking generated by the conduct of a home occupation shall be met off the street and other than in the required front yard.

(Ord. 578 §39, 1996).

Obtaining a home business license requires that an application be completed and submitted to the city permit administrator (or designee) at City Hall along with a fee as set by resolution of the city council. The administrator (or designee) shall review the application to ensure that standards are met and may issue the license within ten days of its submittal. If the administrator determines that the proposed business is such that standards for operating the home business cannot be met, the license shall not be issued. The applicant may appeal this determination to the city council according to appeal procedures contained in Chapter 17.100 of this title.

(Ord. 578 §40, 1996).

The administrator may void any home license for noncompliance with any of the standards listed in Section 17.68.030 of this chapter.

(Ord. 578 §42, 1996).

The following uses shall be exempt from the provisions of this chapter. Additional exemptions may be established through amendments to this chapter.

(1)

Babysitting and family day care facilities for up to twelve children at any one time in addition to those children living in the home, provided, the business meets licensing requirements of the state of Washington;

(2)

Adult family homes pursuant to Chapter 70.128 RCW as the same exists now or may hereafter be amended;

(3)

Newspaper delivery; and

(4)

Two garage and/or yard sales in a given year as long as the sale involves only the sale of household goods, none of which were purchased for the purpose of resale and each sale does not continue for more than three consecutive days and is not in violation of any other provisions of the Oroville municipal code or other city ordinances.

(Ord. 578 §44, 1996).