The requirements set forth in this article shall apply to the conduct of home occupations and home-based businesses in Southern Shores.

(Ord. No. 2007-05-01, art. VIII, 6-5-2007)

(a)

The town adopts these standards and regulations to regulate the conduct of a business within the confines of their residences, to provide residents with an opportunity to use their homes to engage in small-scale business activities, and to establish standards to ensure that such home occupations/home based businesses are conducted as lawful uses, subordinate to the residential use of the property right to quiet enjoyment by neighbors.

(b)

Home occupations/home-based businesses are permitted in any residential dwelling unit subject to the following provisions:

(1)

The use of the dwelling unit for the home occupation or home-based business shall be clearly incidental and subordinate to its use for residential purposes by its occupants, and shall under no circumstances change the residential character of the structure or the property.

(2)

There shall be no change in the outside appearance of the building or premises, or other visible evidence of the conduct of such home occupation or home-based business.

(3)

No business storage or warehousing of material, supplies or equipment shall be permitted outside of the primary dwelling unit.

(4)

No toxic, explosive, flammable, combustible, corrosive, etiologic, radioactive or other restricted materials, as may be regulated by the state department of environment, health, and natural resources, division of solid and hazardous materials, shall be used or stored on the site in quantities greater than is reasonable and customary for any residential unit.

(5)

No display of products shall be visible from the street.

(6)

A home occupation or home-based business shall be subject to all applicable licenses, permits and business taxes.

(Ord. No. 2007-05-01, art. IX, 6-5-2007)

(a)

Home occupation/home-based business use of residential property permits very limited activities in a residential dwelling, provided:

(1)

Such activities do not impact or detract from the residential character of the neighborhood.

(2)

The business inside the dwelling unit shall not exceed 25 percent of habitable space of the primary residential structure.

(b)

A home occupation shall be deemed an accessory use, and no further approval shall be required, provided the use meets the standards of this section.

(Ord. No. 2007-05-01, art. X, 6-5-2007)

No home occupation or home-based business shall be permitted that does any of the following:

(1)

Requires internal or external alterations inconsistent with the residential use of the building or the land.

(2)

Requires additional parking over and above that of residential use.

(3)

Is a nuisance, or creates a hazard to persons or property.

(Ord. No. 2007-05-01, art. XI, 6-5-2007)