Erie's Home Occupation definition allows 'no customer, client or patient traffic, whether vehicular or pedestrian, pickup, delivery or removal functions to or from the premises, in excess of those normally associated with residential use,' so a qualifying home business cannot draw client visits, deliveries or pickups beyond ordinary household levels.
The traffic limit is built into the City of Erie Zoning Ordinance's definition of Home Occupation, which requires the activity be 'clearly secondary to the use as a residential dwelling' and 'involves no customer, client or patient traffic, whether vehicular or pedestrian, pickup, delivery or removal functions to or from the premises, in excess of those normally associated with residential use.' Condition (a) reinforces that the activity must be compatible with the residential use and surrounding residential uses, and condition (d) bars any outside appearance of a commercial use 'including, but not limited to, parking,' meaning no business parking or customer parking demand. A home occupation in Erie therefore cannot operate as a walk-in or appointment business that brings a stream of clients or commercial deliveries to the house. This mirrors the no-traffic core of Pennsylvania's statutory 'no-impact home-based business' (53 P.S. Sec. 10107), which uses the same 'no customer, client or patient traffic... in excess of those normally associated with residential use' language.
A home business that generates customer/client visits, commercial deliveries, or parking demand beyond normal residential levels exceeds the Home Occupation definition and becomes an unpermitted commercial use; the Zoning Officer may issue an enforcement notice under Section 403, and the City may pursue civil penalties of up to $500 per day plus costs until the use conforms.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Erie, PA
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Erie, PA
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Erie, PA
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See how Erie's customer traffic restrictions rules stack up against other locations.
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