How Gresham Handles Home Business: A Practical Guide
Gresham maintains 113 local ordinances across all categories, and 4 of those deal specifically with home business. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Gresham falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.
Zoning & Home Occupation Permits
Gresham allows a home-based business as an accessory home occupation in any dwelling and its garage in any residential zone, provided permanent residents live on site and the use meets the section's standards.
Key details: Allowed structures: Dwelling unit plus garage. Not permitted in: Other accessory structures. Residency rule: Residents on-site 30+ days. Applies: Citywide, any home.
Basing a home occupation in a shed, standalone workshop, or other detached accessory building beyond the garage violates Section 10.0505(D), and letting the permanent residents move out for over 30 days ends eligibility under Section 10.0502(D).
Customer Traffic Restrictions
Gresham home occupations must set aside two dedicated on-site parking spaces beyond the dwelling's normal requirement, and no more than two customer vehicles may be at the property at once.
Key details: Dedicated parking: Two spaces beyond dwelling minimum. Vehicle cap: Two customer vehicles at once. Parking location: Designated on-site spaces only. Basis: Section 10.0505(K).
Exceeding two simultaneous customer vehicles or letting clients park off the designated on-site spaces violates Section 10.0505(K); verified complaints can trigger mandatory Type II renewal review under Section 10.0507.
Signage Rules
Gresham bans all signage for home occupations: no sign may reveal a home business exists, and nothing visible from the street or a neighbor's yard may show the home is used for anything but a dwelling.
Key details: Signs allowed: None. Visible evidence: None from street or neighbors. Applies to: Type I and Type II alike. Enforced by: City Manager, Section 10.0508.
Posting a business sign or any street-visible or neighbor-visible evidence of a home occupation violates Section 10.0505(A)-(B); the City Manager may revoke the permit under Section 10.0508 for the violation.
Compared to other cities, Gresham takes a harder line on signage rules. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.
Home Daycare
Registered (up to 10 kids) and certified (up to 16 kids) family child care homes run by a resident are an accessory residential use in Gresham, not a commercial land use requiring development review.
Key details: Registered homes: up to 10 children. Certified homes: up to 16 children. Provider requirement: must be home's resident. Zoning status: accessory residential use. Commercial review: not required if within limits.
Care homes exceeding registered/certified state limits, or unregistered setups serving three or more children, are classified as commercial Daycare Facilities requiring site development review: operating without that approval in a residential district is a zoning code violation.
If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find Gresham gives residents more flexibility on home daycare.
The Bottom Line
Gresham'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 Gresham is broadly strict or permissive.
All of the above reflects Gresham's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.