Home Business in Kirkland, WA (2026)
5 verified home business rules for Kirkland, Washington, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Zoning & Home Occupation Permits
Kirkland allows a home occupation as an accessory use in a single-family home, multifamily unit or Accessory Dwelling Unit, provided the operator lives on site and holds a City business license, under KZC 115.65. The use must stay incidental to residential life and meet a detailed list of size, traffic, storage and vehicle standards.
Kirkland Home Occupation Zoning Standards
Some RestrictionsKZC 115.65(1)-(3)
1. Purpose – The purpose of this section is to allow limited commercial activity incidental to residential use of a dwelling unit while ensuring all residents freedom from excessive noise, excessive traffic, nuisance, fire hazard, and other possible effects of commercial uses being conducted in residential neighborhoods. 2. Applicability – Home occupations are allowed as an accessory use to the...
Signage Rules
A Kirkland home occupation may display only one building-mounted, non-illuminated sign of up to two square feet, under KZC 115.65(4)(i). No other exterior sign of any kind is allowed, keeping a home-based business visually indistinguishable from a residence.
Kirkland Home Business Sign Limit: 2 Sq Ft
Some RestrictionsKZC 115.65(4)(i)
i. Has no exterior indication other than one (1) building-mounted, non-illuminated sign with a maximum size of two (2) square feet;
Customer Traffic Restrictions
Kirkland caps a home-based business at six client or customer visits per day and no more than two visitors on site at once, under KZC 115.65(4)(g). Visits are restricted to the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and a family arriving in one vehicle counts as a single client.
Kirkland Home Occupation Client Visit Limits
Some RestrictionsKZC 115.65(4)(g)
g. Includes no more than six (6) clients/customers per day and no more than two (2) clients/customers at any time visiting the dwelling unit (or, for properties that contain an Accessory Dwelling Unit, visiting the property) for goods or services. A family arriving in a single vehicle shall be considered one (1) client. Client/customer visits to a home occupation shall be between the hours of 8...
Cottage Food Operations
Home-based food production in Kirkland needs a WSDA Cottage Food Operations permit under RCW 69.22, with sales capped at 25,000 dollars and approved non-hazardous foods only.
Kirkland Cottage Food and Home Kitchen Rules
Some RestrictionsWSDA Cottage Food Operation — Chapter 69.22 RCW; Chapter 16-149 WAC
Cottage Food Operation. A Cottage Food Permit allows a resident of Washington state to make food that is not potentially hazardous such as baked goods, candies, jams, jellies, preserves, fruit butters, dry spice blends, or dry tea blends in their primary residential kitchen. [...] Cottage Food Facts: The application fee is $355 and is nonrefundable after it is received by our office. Verify tha...
Home Daycare
Family daycare homes serving 12 or fewer children are allowed as a home occupation in Kirkland residential zones, subject to KZC 115.42 standards and Washington DCYF licensing under RCW 43.216.
Kirkland Family Daycare Home Rules
Some RestrictionsRCW 35.63.185
(3) A city may also require that the family day-care provider, before state licensing, require proof of written notification by the provider that the immediately adjoining property owners have been informed of the intent to locate and maintain such a facility. If a dispute arises between neighbors and the family day-care provider over licensing requirements, the licensor may provide a forum to ...
Looking for King County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Kirkland city rules.
Home Business in King County →