Home Business in Kennewick, WA

If you live in Kennewick or are thinking about moving there, home business are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Kennewick has 4 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of home business, and some of them might surprise you.

Home Daycare

Kennewick permits family day care homes by right in every zoning district that allows residences, provided the operator holds a state license and meets standard setback and lot standards.

Key details: Governing section: KMC § 18.12.070. Permitted: By right in residential zones. License required: WA family day care license. Character rule: Must keep single-family look.

Operating without the required state family day care license or violating the zoning district's setback and lot coverage standards can bring code enforcement action and business license denial.

Signage Rules

Kennewick home occupations can't post any exterior advertising except one "residential use sign," which KMC 18.09.1760 caps at one square foot and requires to be unilluminated, displayed on the side of the residence or inside a window. KMC 18.42.090(1)(f)-(h) also bans window product displays, outdoor commodity displays, and any retail sales on the premises.

Key details: Exterior advertising allowed: one residential use sign only. Residential use sign size cap: 1 square foot. Residential use sign illumination: must be unilluminated. Sign location: side of residence or inside a window. Window/outdoor product displays: prohibited.

Posting exterior advertising beyond the one-square-foot, unilluminated residential use sign, or displaying products in a window or outdoors, violates KMC 18.42.090(1)(f)-(g) and is a misdemeanor under KMC 18.54.090. The Planning Director can deny an application that can't substantially meet the signage standard under KMC 18.42.090(2) or revoke an existing permit for noncompliance under KMC 18.54.010.

Zoning & Home Occupation Permits

The Planning Director can approve a home occupation in any Kennewick residential unit regardless of zoning designation, but only if it meets every standard in KMC 18.42.090: no structural alterations, an entrance from within the residence, a floor-area cap of 25 percent, and no retail sales. In R districts, failing to substantially meet even one standard means denial, and the permit isn't final until a business license issues.

Key details: Floor area cap: 25% of residential structure + accessory buildings used. Structural alterations: not allowed (KMC 18.42.090(1)(a)). Entrance requirement: must be from within the residence. Employee limit: 1 temporary/irregular employee, first 18 months only. Barred occupations: auto repair, body shops, dog kennels/boarding, heavy equipment.

Operating a home occupation that departs from the approved conditions, or without ever obtaining the required business license, violates Title 18 and is a misdemeanor under KMC 18.54.090. The Planning Director can also suspend or revoke the underlying permit for noncompliance under KMC 18.54.010, and a pending application that can't substantially meet the section's criteria is denied outright under KMC 18.42.090(2).

Customer Traffic Restrictions

Kennewick caps home occupation client traffic at four appointment-only customer visits per day, with no more than one visit on the premises at a time and only between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., under KMC 18.42.090(1)(m). A single visit can include up to four people arriving in one vehicle. Related standards limit occupation vehicles kept on-site and require the operator to handle most deliveries personally.

Key details: Max customer/client visits: 4 per day, appointment only. Visits on premises at once: 1 at a time. Permitted visit hours: 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.. What counts as one visit: up to 4 people in a single vehicle. Occupation vehicles on-site: max 2, each under 10,000 lbs GVW.

Exceeding four appointment-only client visits a day, allowing more than one visit on the premises at once, or receiving visitors outside the 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. window violates KMC 18.42.090(1)(m) and is a misdemeanor under KMC 18.54.090. The Planning Director can also revoke the home occupation permit under KMC 18.54.010 for failing to operate within its conditions.

The Bottom Line

Kennewick'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 Kennewick is broadly strict or permissive.

This guide is based on Kennewick's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.