Washington County Unincorporated
City Zoning Code

CHAPTER 26

HOME OCCUPATIONS

10-26-1: PURPOSE:

The purpose of these requirements is to protect the character and nature of residential dwellings and property located in the FR, R, RA, RE, or SFR zones in the county. Home occupations allow the owner, leaseholder, or defined family members who live on site to use a residential dwelling or accessory building for limited commercial purposes only when the home occupation will not alter the residential character or appearance of the zone, the neighborhood, or the property. A leaseholder shall have owner consent, and an executed, long term lease for exclusive use of the property, as conditions of applying for a major home occupation and business license, and if granted, the provisions herein apply. The home occupation shall be accessory, incidental, and secondary to the residential use. (Ord. 2026-1321-O, 5-19-2026)

10-26-2: GENERAL PROVISIONS:

The rules in this section apply to all home occupations.

A. Home occupations shall be conducted only by the property owner, leaseholder, or defined family members who lives on site. Family members are defined as children, parents, siblings, grandchildren, grandparents, nieces, nephews, aunts, or uncles.

B. The home occupation equipment, use, or license shall not be leased or transferred to any other person or entity.

C. The home occupation shall have a low impact on the residential nature of the zone, neighborhood, or property and shall not introduce noise, fumes, smoke, odor, dust, lighting, traffic, or on-street parking above what is customary for the residential lot, parcel, or neighborhood.

D. The home occupation business shall not require receipt or delivery of merchandise, goods, or equipment by other than a passenger vehicle, or delivery service vehicle except those customarily used for residential deliveries. No deliveries shall be made by semitruck or semi tractor.

E. The home occupation shall not increase the demand or amount of utility services beyond normal residential use on the property. It shall not increase the need for trash collection, water, sewer, septic, power, or fire protection beyond what is customary for residential use.

F. Home occupations are not permitted in the PD-STR zone. Major home occupations are not permitted in PDR, PD Multifamily zones, or townhouse developments.

G. The home occupation shall not solicit sales or visits by the general public except as done by specific prior appointment.

H. No sign or advertising shall be displayed on the property for the home occupation business.

I. Final decisions by the Community Development director or designee are final administrative decisions, and any appeal is governed by County Ord. § 10-2-4 .

J. Designees of the Community Development department have inspection authority to determine eligibility and compliance. The dwelling or accessory buildings shall comply with all building and fire codes. Noncompliance by the owner or leaseholder may result in a code enforcement action, revocation of the business license, or other civil or criminal penalties set forth in County Ord. § 10-1-22. (Ord. 2026-1321-O, 5-19-2026)

10-26-3: MINOR HOME OCCUPATIONS:

The following are requirements of minor home occupations:

A. The minor home occupation shall be conducted by the property owner or leaseholder entirely within the dwelling or accessory building, including all storage of materials, inventory, supplies, or merchandise. No storage or display of goods shall be visible from outside the dwelling or accessory building.

B. Minor home occupations that meet the requirements of this chapter do not require a business license. If the criteria for a minor home occupation are not met, the owner or leaseholder shall apply for a major home occupation and obtain a business license before operating.

C. The home occupation square footage shall not exceed 25 percent of the total floor area of all the dwellings and accessory buildings on site. An outside area designated for lessons (i.e., pool) or a daycare play area is not included in the total floor area calculation.

D. The home occupation shall not require additional off street parking exceeding what is typical in the neighborhood.

E. The home occupation shall not result in a noticeable increase in clientele or employees to the site. No more than one employee at a time. No more than one client at a time. For lessons or a daycare, no more than eight students or children at a time.

F. Minor home occupations additionally shall meet the following criteria:

1. Performed by the property owner, leaseholder, or defined family member (except one non-family employee is permitted).

2. If the above requirements are met, the following are examples of minor home occupations:

a. Artists and sculptors;

b. Authors and composers;

c. Crafts for sale off site;

d. Daycares with no more than eight children at a time;

e. Electronic repair;

f. Group lessons (no more than 8 students in a 24 hour period);

g. Gun repair;

h. Home office (negligible client visits);

i. Individual lessons or tutoring (no more than 8 students in a 24 hour period);

j. Office facilities for a maximum of four property owners, leaseholders, or defined family members if operating as sales representatives, or manufacturer's representatives;

k. Selling of items primarily through parties held in private residences if limited to two parties per month;

l. Phone or internet sales for a maximum of four property owners, leaseholders, or defined family members;

m. Photo studios;

n. Preschools (no more than eight students in a 24 hour period);

o. Professional office (no more than one client at a time; i.e. tax preparer);

p. Sewing;

q. Single chair beauty parlors, estheticians, or barbershops;

r. Upholstering; or

s. Woodworking (small scale, no semitruck delivery of materials). (Ord. 2026-1321-O, 5-19-2026)

10-26-4: MAJOR HOME OCCUPATIONS:

The following are requirements of major home occupations:

A. The major home occupation shall be conducted by the property owner or leaseholder entirely within the dwelling or accessory building, including all storage of materials, inventory, supplies, or merchandise unless the Community Development director or designee permits limited outdoor use under conditions that shall be strictly followed.

B. Major home occupations require submission of an application to the Community Development department with all details required on the application. Upon submission of a complete application, a major home occupation shall be approved, approved with conditions, or denied by the Community Development director and as a final administrative decision. If approved, a major home occupation requires a business license. The business license shall by renewed yearly or every two years and is subject to the director's conditions on an ongoing basis.

C. The major home occupation square footage shall not exceed 35 percent of the total floor area of all the dwellings and accessory buildings on site. The limited outdoor use approved by the Community Development director or designee is not included in the total floor area calculation. The outside area designated for lessons (i.e. pool) or a daycare play area is not included in the total floor area calculation.

D. No storage or display of goods shall be visible from outside the dwelling, attached garage, or accessory building, except as part of the conditions of approval by the Community Development director or designee. If outside storage is permitted by the director, the yard or the area where storage occurs shall be surrounded by a sight obscuring fence or wall of not less than six feet in height (no chain link with slats). Nothing shall be stored to a height greater than the sight obscuring fence or wall. No outside storage of vehicles is permitted unless they are in running order and in the rear yard.

E. Up to three vehicles may be used in connection with the major home occupation. Each vehicle is limited to a maximum of 14,000 pounds gross vehicle weight (Class 1, 2, or 3). Up to a total of three pieces of equipment or trailers also may be used. Equipment shall not exceed 8,000 lbs. Trailers shall not exceed 30 ft. in length and shall not exceed 24,000 lbs. GVWR. All vehicles, equipment, and trailers shall be parked and stored behind the dwelling in the rear yard. Corner lots have two frontages.

F. A major home occupation shall provide an additional off street parking area reasonably adequate to accommodate needs created by the home occupation as determined by the Community Development director or designee.

G. The owner or leaseholder shall provide an accurate description of estimated traffic, on and off street parking, and deliveries from commercial suppliers.

H. When a business license application involving a major home occupation is initially sought, or a renewal is sought for a significant change to the home occupation (typically growth of the business activity), the application shall be reviewed by the Community Development director or designee to ensure compliance with this title. (Ord. 2018-1120-O, 8-21-2018)

I. A major home occupation shall not introduce noise, fumes, smoke, odor, dust, lighting, traffic, or on-street parking above what is customary for the zone, the neighborhood, or the property. Any noise emanating beyond the property line during daytime for a continuous period of ten minutes or more is prohibited if the average decibel level at or beyond the property line is 70 dB or more. As a condition of approval, the Community Development director or designee may require decibel monitoring and records retention by the owner or leaseholder with disclosure of the decibel readings to the department upon request.

J. A major home occupation shall be performed by the owner, leaseholder, or defined family members, and also may include:

1. Up to one non-family employee on the property at a time if the home occupation brings clientele to the premises.

2. In a subdivision, up to four non-family employees on the property at a time if the home occupation does not bring clientele to the property.

3. If not in a subdivision, and the zone size is one-acre or greater, up to eight non-family employees on the property at a time if the home occupation does not bring clientele to the property.

4. Only for daycares or preschools, up to four non-family employees may be on the property at a time in a subdivision or if the zone size is less than one-acre.

K. If all above requirements are met, the following are examples of major home occupations:

1. Auto detailing limited to three vehicles on-site at one time;

2. Vehicle or engine repair limited to three engines or vehicles on-site at one time (not in a subdivision);

3. Carpet or upholstery cleaning;

4. Contractors (not in a subdivision); all materials, supplies, equipment, trucks, and trailers in the rear yard surrounded by a sight obscuring fence or wall of not less than six feet in height (no chain link with slats);

5. Daycares with more than eight but 16 or less in a 24 hour period;

6. Game meat processing (small scale);

7. Group lessons (more than 8 but 16 or less in a 24 hour period);

8. Home office (client visits 8 or less per 24 hour period);

9. Individual lessons or tutoring (more than 8 but 16 or less in a 24 hour period);

10. Lawn and yard care;

11. Massage therapy (16 or less in a 24 hour period);

12. Multiple chair (3 maximum) beauty parlor, esthetician, or barbershop (16 or less in a 24-hour period);

13. Pest and weed control services;

14. Preschools with more than eight but 16 or less in a 24 hour period (excluding children that live on the property); or

15. Taxidermy (small scale).

L. The following are examples of businesses not suitable for a home occupation:

1. Vehicle painting or other paint-shop services;

2. Major appliance repair;

3. Animal kennels or stables;

4. Manufacturing or industrial businesses;