Auburn, WA Home Business: Customer Traffic Restrictions (2026)

Auburn City Code Chapter 18.60 places strict limits on customer traffic generated by home occupations to protect residential character. Home occupations must not generate vehicle traffic greater than that normal to a residence in the zone, typically interpreted as no more than four client or customer visits per day with a maximum of two visitors present at any single time. This rule effectively rules out most retail, restaurant, salon-with-walk-ins, and similar high-traffic uses. Service providers (tutoring, therapy, bookkeeping, music lessons, small crafts) are the typical lawful home occupations. All client vehicles must park on-site in the driveway or designated off-street spaces; customer parking on public streets at volumes beyond incidental levels violates ACC 18.60. Deliveries are limited to standard residential-sized vehicles (UPS, FedEx, USPS); regular commercial trucks, heavy trucks, and box trucks making deliveries tied to the business are not allowed. Loading or unloading of business supplies and customer volume must not create noise, traffic congestion, or parking disruption for neighbors. Violations attract code enforcement notices with cumulative fines and can lead to loss of the Auburn Business License.