Washington County, UT Home Business: Customer Traffic Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- § 10-26-4(G), (I), (K)(8)
- Major-tier client cap
- 8 client visits per 24 hours
- Minor-tier standard
- Negligible client visits only
- Noise limit
- 70 dB at property line, 10+ min
- License renewal
- Every 1 to 2 years
- Last rewritten
- Ord. 2026-1321-O, May 19, 2026
Summary
Washington County limits how much foot traffic a home-based business can bring to a residential lot. A home office with negligible client visits qualifies as a minor home occupation, while § 10-26-4(K)(8) treats a home office with up to eight client visits in any 24-hour period as a major home occupation requiring a license.
G. The owner or leaseholder shall provide an accurate description of estimated traffic, on and off street parking, and deliveries from commercial suppliers. ... I. A major home occupation shall not introduce noise, fumes, smoke, odor, dust, lighting, traffic, or on-street parking above what is customary for the zone, the neighborhood, or the property. Any noise emanating beyond the property line during daytime for a continuous period of ten minutes or more is prohibited if the average decibel level at or beyond the property line is 70 dB or more. ... K. If all above requirements are met, the following are examples of major home occupations: ... 8. Home office (client visits 8 or less per 24 hour period);
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-17: Code current through: Ord. 2026-1329-O, passed 8-18-2026).
Full Breakdown
Section 10-26-4, Major Home Occupations, addresses client traffic directly. Subsection G requires the owner or leaseholder to "provide an accurate description of estimated traffic, on and off street parking, and deliveries from commercial suppliers" as part of the license application reviewed by the Community Development director. Subsection I bars any major home occupation from introducing "noise, fumes, smoke, odor, dust, lighting, traffic, or on-street parking above what is customary for the zone, the neighborhood, or the property," and separately caps noise at 70 decibels measured at the property line for any continuous ten-minute period during the day.
Subsection K(8) lists "Home office (client visits 8 or less per 24 hour period)" as an approved example of a major home occupation, distinguishing it from the minor "home office (negligible client visits)" category that needs no license at all. Subsection F requires the major home occupation to provide "an additional off street parking area reasonably adequate to accommodate needs created by the home occupation," on top of normal residential parking, so an approved home office with client visits must show where those extra cars will park.
Every major home occupation, including a client-visit home office, requires a Community Development application and a business license renewed every one or two years, and Ordinance 2026-1321-O, adopted May 19, 2026, is the ordinance currently governing this chapter.
Violations & Fines
A home office that draws more client visits than its approved license allows, or that fails the traffic and parking description required under § 10-26-4(G), can be cited for operating without proper authorization. County Ord. § 10-1-22 penalizes that as a Title 10 violation: a $250 civil fine for each day the violation continues after a 10-day cure notice, or prosecution as a class B misdemeanor.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many clients can visit a home-based business in Washington County per day?
Do I have to describe my expected client traffic when applying?
Is there a noise limit tied to client traffic at a home business?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Washington County
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