The purpose of this section is to provide a regulated means for the operation of limited nonintrusive businesses within residential districts.

(1)

Home occupations are permitted in all residential districts provided that the following conditions are met:

(a)

All home occupations be licensed by the Plan Commission, such license shall be renewed annually after an on site inspection finds the home occupation still complying with the conditions of the license and this Ordinance;

(b)

The total area devoted to such home occupations shall not exceed 25% of the floor area of the building involved excluding the garage;

(c)

It uses only household equipment; such equipment shall not create offensive noise, vibration, dust, odors, heat, glare, pollution, or result in interference of radio or television reception;

(d)

Signs denoting a home occupation shall be unlighted, shall not exceed 2 square feet in display area on all sides located on the premises, and shall meet all applicable yard and setback provisions of this Ordinance;

(e)

Materials used in or produced by an authorized home occupation may not be stored or displayed outside;

(f)

Vehicles used in association with an authorized home occupation may be parked in an on-premises driveway provided they do not exceed 1½ tons in weight;

(g)

The volume of vehicular or pedestrian traffic or parking shall not result in congestion or be in excess of what is normal in a residential neighborhood;

(h)

All authorized home occupations meet with fire and building safety requirements and are inspected prior to opening for business and thereafter as required by the appropriate departments;

(i)

Reserved;

(j)

Any authorized home occupation which requires plumbing, electrical, or structural changes, when such changes are not customarily part of the dwelling unit, shall be prohibited;

(k)

No stock in trade is sold or offered for sale, except for that which is produced on the premises; and

(l)

A professional office shall be restricted to only one story or a dwelling and only one nonresident person shall be employed.

(2)

The following are the permitted home occupations, so long as they do not violate any of the provisions above:

(a)

Dressmaking, sewing, tailoring, and millinery;

(b)

Laundering, clothing rental;

(c)

Painting, sculpturing, or writing;

(d)

Telephone answering;

(e)

Model making, rug weaving, lapidary work, ceramics;

(f)

Tutoring, limited to four students at one time;

(g)

Sharpening of saws, scissors, knives and skates;

(h)

Computer programming;

(i)

Reserved;

(j)

Professional offices for ministers, lawyers, authors, and musicians.

(3)

The following occupations are prohibited as home occupations:

(a)

Barbershops and beauty parlors;

(b)

Dance studios;

(c)

Photographic studios;

(d)

Mortuaries;

(e)

Nursery schools;

(f)

Restaurants;

(g)

Kennels or stables;

(h)

Automobile repair and paint shops;

(i)

Reserved;

(j)

Small engine repairs;

(k)

Welding shops and blacksmith shops; and

(l)

The assembly by mass production of items for resale other than in those home occupations listed above. Assembly by mass production means the creation or manufacture of items from parts, some of which are interchangeable.

(4)

An application for a home occupation license must be submitted to the Zoning Administrator. There shall be a fee as established annually by the Common Council on the Fee Schedule for all such applications. If after review, it is the opinion of the Zoning Administrator that the requested home occupation is permitted than a license may be issued. If however, in the opinion of the Zoning Administrator the requested home occupation is neither permitted nor strictly prohibited, then a conditional use permit approved by the Plan Commission will be required.

(5)

An application fee as established annually by the Common Council on the Fee Schedule will be required for any home occupation requiring a conditional use permit. After the holding of a public hearing and review by the Plan Commission, the permit will be approved or denied based on the conditions listed in subsection (1).

(6)

All permitted home occupations shall be licensed annually for a fee as established annually by the Common Council on the Fee Schedule and will automatically expire when the premises is sold, leased or otherwise transferred to a different owner or owners.

(Ord. No. 23-09, § 8, 11-28-2023)