How Auburn Handles Home Business: A Practical Guide

Auburn maintains 148 local ordinances across all categories, and 5 of those deal specifically with home business. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Auburn falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Cottage Food Operations

Auburn follows WA Cottage Food Law RCW 69.22. Home food producers may sell up to $25,000/year of approved low-risk foods direct to consumers after WSDA permit. Auburn Business License is also required.

Key details: State Law: RCW 69.22. Annual Cap: $25,000 gross sales. Permit Agency: WSDA. Approved Foods: Low-risk only. Auburn License: Required.

Home Daycare

Auburn permits home-based (family) daycare as a right in every residential zone under ACC 18.07.020, provided the operator holds a state license and an approved city business license. ACC 18.31.010 caps daycare, preschool and nursery hours in RC, R-1 and R-2 zones to between 5:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.

Key details: Zoning status: Permitted (P) in every residential zone. Home daycare cap: 12 children/adults, in family quarters. City requirement: Approved city business license. State law tie-in: Regulated per RCW 35.63.185. Hours limit (RC, R-1, R-2): 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m..

Operating a home daycare without the required city business license, or running hours outside the 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. window in the RC, R-1 or R-2 zones, is a zoning code violation enforceable by the city's code enforcement division; the city can require the operator to bring hours into compliance or revoke the business license, independent of any action the state licensing agency takes for its own violations.

Customer Traffic Restrictions

Auburn caps home occupation traffic at eight two-way client or delivery trips per day for appointment-only businesses without overlapping visits, and five two-way trips per day for every other home occupation, under ACC 18.60.020(J).

Key details: Appointment-only, no overlap: 8 two-way trips/day max. All other home occupations: 5 two-way trips/day max. Customer visiting hours: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.. Extra parking for the business: Not allowed. Fallback if trips exceed cap: Special permit if 9+ of 11 met.

Exceeding five (or eight, for strictly appointment-only, non-overlapping operations) two-way client and delivery trips per day violates ACC 18.60.020(J) and removes the home occupation from outright-permitted status; if the business still meets at least nine of the 11 total requirements it must obtain a special home occupation permit under ACC 18.60.040, decided by the planning director or, where public comment shows substantial controversy, referred to the hearing examiner under Chapter 2.46 ACC.

Zoning & Home Occupation Permits

Auburn allows home occupations in any residential zone under a business license, but ACC 18.60.020 imposes 11 numbered requirements on floor area, employees, hours, parking, and vehicle trips before a special permit becomes necessary.

Key details: Requirements to operate outright: All 11 under ACC 18.60.020. Minimum to qualify for special permit: At least 9 of 11. Floor area cap: 500 sq ft (except B&Bs). Nonresident employees: Maximum of 2. Employee hours: 8am-6pm weekdays, 9am-6pm weekends.

Home occupations that cannot meet at least nine of the 11 ACC 18.60.020 requirements are not permitted at all; those meeting nine or 10 must obtain a special home occupation permit reviewed as a Type I decision under ACC Title 14, decided by the planning director or, if public comment shows substantial controversy, referred to the hearing examiner under Chapter 2.46 ACC. The city's business license process is the enforcement checkpoint, since a home occupation license requires compliance with all city codes and ordinances.

Signage Rules

Auburn limits a home occupation to a single nonilluminated sign no larger than 18 by 24 inches under ACC 18.60.020(G), unless the home occupation sits in a commercial or industrial zone, where regular zoning sign rules apply instead.

Key details: Sign count allowed: One sign maximum. Maximum sign size: 18 inches by 24 inches. Illumination: Not allowed. Mounting: Must attach to a building. Zone exception: Commercial/industrial zones follow Ch. 18.56 ACC.

A home occupation sign that exceeds 18 by 24 inches, is illuminated, or is not attached to the building violates ACC 18.60.020(G) and puts the operation out of compliance with the 11-requirement standard, exposing it to code enforcement action or a requirement to apply for a special home occupation permit under ACC 18.60.040 if it can still meet at least nine of the 11 total requirements.

The Bottom Line

Auburn's home business rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Auburn is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Auburn can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.