Home Business in Island County, WA (2026)
4 rules for unincorporated Island County, Washington.
Verified from official government sources
Zoning & Home Occupation Permits
Island County Code section 17.03.180.K lets any dwelling or accessory structure in a Rural, Rural Residential, Rural Agriculture, Rural Forest or Commercial Agriculture zone host a home occupation, provided it stays "clearly incidental and secondary" to residential use and fits within 50 percent of the home's floor area or 800 square feet, whichever is less.
Island County Home Occupation Zoning Standards
Some RestrictionsIsland County Code § 17.03.180.K
K.Home occupation standards. Home occupations are accessory to the primary residential use and are permitted in any dwelling unit or accessory structure. 1.The following list of uses is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather is intended to be illustrative of the types of uses:a.Artists, photographer and sculptors;b.Authors and composers;c.Dressmakers, seamstresses and tailors;d.Day care nurs...
Signage Rules
Home businesses in unincorporated Island County cannot put up sign clutter: Island County Code section 17.03.180.K.2.m requires every home occupation to "comply with the non-residential rural design, landscape, open space, screening, buffering, signage, parking, and lighting standards set forth in this section," and the county's signage table at section 17.03.180.R caps "Home Industry/Occupation" signs at 9 square feet in the Rural, Rural Agriculture, Rural Center and Rural Service zones.
Island County Home Business Sign Size Limit
Light RestrictionsIsland County Code § 17.03.180.K.2.m; § 17.03.180.R
m.Home occupations shall comply with the non-residential rural design, landscape, open space, screening, buffering, signage, parking, and lighting standards set forth in this section. ... Sign Type Maximum Sign Area (in square feet) By Zoning District Rural (R) Rural Ag (RA) ... Home Industry/Occupation 9 9
Customer Traffic Restrictions
A home occupation in unincorporated Island County cannot bring more customer or client traffic than the surrounding zone would normally see. Island County Code section 17.03.180.K.2.j bars any home business from generating "traffic in excess of that normally generated by typical uses found within the particular zone," and caps outside staff at one non-family employee working on site.
Island County Home Business Traffic Limit
Light RestrictionsIsland County Code § 17.03.180.K.2.j
K.Home occupation standards. Home occupations are accessory to the primary residential use and are permitted in any dwelling unit or accessory structure. ... j.The proposed use shall not generate traffic in excess of that normally generated by typical uses found within the particular zone.k.The home occupation does not employ on-site or report to work on-site, more than one (1) full time person...
Home Daycare
Island County Code section 17.03.040 sorts home-based child care by headcount: a "day care nursery" serves up to six people and "is considered to be a home occupation and must meet the standards for home occupation," while a "day care center (small)" serving seven to twelve people is a separate, larger use category not automatically covered by the home occupation rules.
Island County Home Day Care Zoning Rules
Some RestrictionsIsland County Code § 17.03.040
Day care means a facility maintained under public or private auspices and licensed by the state for the purpose of providing care, assistance and/or training for persons (children or adults) not related to the caregiver. The care is provided for less than twenty-four (24) hours during one (1) day. ... Day care center means care provided for more than twelve (12) persons. ... Day care center (sm...
All Island County ordinances
See every category we cover for Island County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Island County Ordinance Hub →