De Pere's Home Business: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles home business a little differently. In De Pere, Wisconsin, there are 3 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Home Daycare

De Pere's zoning ordinance defines a family day care home as a licensed use for 8 or fewer children under age 7 operating from a residence. Under Section 14-78(8)(c)2, family day care homes are exempt from the home occupation rules entirely and skip the conditional-use review a Type B home occupation requires, but the use must still be one Table 7-1 permits in that zoning district.

Key details: Size cap: 8 or fewer children under age 7. Home occupation status: Exempt, not a home occupation. Permit review: No conditional-use review required. Licensing: Must hold a state day care license. District rule: Governed by the Table 7-1 use table.

Operating a family day care home in a district where Table 7-1 does not list the Day Care use, or without the required state license, is an unlawful land use under Section 14-151(1)(a) and (c). The development services director enforces the classification under Section 14-150, may withhold or revoke a related authorization under Section 14-152(2), and the city may issue a municipal citation under Section 1-11 of the municipal code per Section 14-152(3). Each day a violation remains uncorrected after notice is a separate offense under Section 14-151(2).

Zoning & Home Occupation Permits

De Pere splits home businesses into Type A, with no employees or customers visiting, and Type B, with one nonresident employee or customer, under Section 14-78(8). Type A operates by right; Type B needs Plan Commission conditional-use approval, and every home occupation is capped at 25 percent of the dwelling's floor area or 650 square feet.

Key details: Type A: No employees or customers, by right. Type B: 1 employee or customer, needs approval. Space cap: 25% of unit or 650 sq ft. Vehicles: Only one passenger vehicle allowed. Tutoring exception: Up to 4 students allowed by right.

Operating a Type B home occupation, one with a nonresident employee or customer visits, without the required conditional-use approval, or exceeding the 25 percent/650 square foot space cap, is an unlawful land use under Section 14-151(1)(a) and (c). The development services director enforces the standard under Section 14-150, may withhold or revoke a permit under Section 14-152(2), and the city may issue a municipal citation under Section 1-11 of the municipal code per Section 14-152(3), with each uncorrected day a separate offense under Section 14-151(2).

Customer Traffic Restrictions

A Type B home occupation in De Pere can have either customers or a nonresident employee, never both. Section 14-78(8)8.b bars a nonresident employee entirely once any client, customer or student visits the site at any time, and Type B use also needs conditional-use approval before it can accept walk-in traffic at all.

Key details: Trade-off: 1 employee OR customers, not both. Applies to: Type B home occupations only. Nonresident employee: Includes partners and co-owners. Tutoring exception: Up to 4 students allowed by right. Household limit: Only 1 Type B use per household.

A home occupation that keeps a nonresident employee while also serving on-site customers, clients or students violates Section 14-78(8)8.b and is an unlawful land use under Section 14-151(1)(a). The development services director enforces the rule under Section 14-150, the city may issue a municipal citation under Section 1-11 of the municipal code per Section 14-152(3), and each day the violation continues after notice is a separate offense under Section 14-151(2).

The Bottom Line

De Pere'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 De Pere is broadly strict or permissive.

These rules come from De Pere's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.