SMC §19.50.040 requires that home occupations not generate pedestrian or vehicular traffic, deliveries, or parking demand substantially greater than normal residential uses, and prohibits employees who do not reside in the dwelling.
Under the basic operating standards of SMC §19.50.040(B), the home occupation 'shall not generate additional pedestrian or vehicular traffic substantially greater than that normally associated with residential uses in the surrounding area.' The City Development Code distinguishes a home occupation from a live/work use (defined elsewhere in Ch. 19.50 and Title 19) precisely because a live/work use may have non-resident employees, more customers/clients, more floor area dedicated to the business, and longer hours than a home occupation. Home occupations are limited to residents of the dwelling — no non-resident employees may report to or work at the site. Parking for clients must fit within the existing residential parking; no additional curb cuts, paved areas, or commercial loading zones may be created. Deliveries must be limited to those typical of residential UPS/USPS/FedEx service — no daily commercial freight, semi-trucks, or step vans are permitted. Higher-traffic uses (e.g., one-on-one music or tutoring lessons that bring scheduled clients to the home) may proceed only under a Conditional Use Permit per §19.50.040(A), which allows the Planning Commission to impose conditions on hours, client scheduling, and on-site parking.
Excess traffic, on-street client parking, or non-resident employees are violations of SMC §19.50.040 and the permit's conditions of approval. Enforcement uses the administrative citation process under SMC Ch. 1.28: approximately $100 (1st), $200 (2nd within 12 months), $500 (3rd and subsequent). The City may also revoke the Administrative or Conditional Use Permit after notice and hearing if traffic, parking, or employee conditions are repeatedly violated, effectively shutting down the business.
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