§ 16-52.110. Home occupations.

A.

Application and fee. Application for a home occupation permit shall be made in compliance with the provisions of division 16-50 (application filing and processing), and shall be accompanied by the appropriate fee. A home occupation permit is required for any use defined as a home occupation.

B.

General criteria. Home occupations shall be limited to the following uses:

1.

Art and craft work (ceramics, painting, photography, sculpture, etc.);

2.

Tailors, sewing, etc.; and

3.

Office-only uses, including an office for an architect, attorney, consultant, counselor, insurance agent, planner, tutor, writer, etc., and electronic commerce.

4.

Firearms sales, as defined in article X (Definitions) of this chapter, are not permitted as a home occupation.

Home occupations may also include any other uses that may be determined by the review authority to be of the same general character as the above-allowed occupations, and not objectionable or detrimental to the zone in which they are located.

C.

Operating standards. Home occupations shall meet the following requirements:

1.

No significant additional traffic shall be created in the neighborhood;

2.

Adequate parking shall be maintained;

3.

No more than one nonresident person shall be employed, at which time an additional off-street parking space shall be required beyond that required by subsection C.2 above;

4.

No material may be stored, and no equipment used which is hazardous or visible or audible from outside the building or otherwise creates a nuisance; and

5.

There shall be no display of goods visible from the exterior of the building, and no signs may be placed on the building or property.

The review authority may impose any reasonable conditions on the home occupation that are warranted by the type of activity. All persons conducting businesses from their homes are required to have a valid business license from the town.

D.

Referral. In his sole discretion, the director may refer any application for a home occupation permit to the planning commission for review and action.

E.

Appeals. Any person aggrieved by any decision of the director involving the approval, denial, or revocation of a home occupation permit, may appeal such decision to the planning commission in compliance with section 16-50.020 (authority for land use and zoning decisions) and section 16-66 (appeals). The decision of the planning commission on the appeal shall be final. Any person aggrieved by any decision of the planning commission involving the approval, denial, or revocation of a home occupation permit (except on appeal), may appeal such decision to the town council using procedures set forth in section 16-66 (appeals).

F.

Business license. A home occupation shall have a valid business license from the town.

G.

Expiration. A home occupation permit shall expire and become null and void one year after its passage if the use approved therein does not commence. Failure to annually renew the home occupation permit as set forth in subsection (H) shall cause the permit to expire.

H.

Annual renewal. A home occupation permit shall be subject to annual renewal. Said renewal may occur in conjunction with renewal of the associated business license.

(Ord. No. 519 N.S., § 3(Exh. A), 3-17-2010; Ord. No. 541 N.S., § 2(Y), 8-15-2012; Ord. No. 548 N.S, § 2(J), 3-5-2014; Ord. No. 564 N.S. , § (DD), 4-6-2016; Ord. No. 577 N.S. , § 2(G), (H), 5-16-2018)