Auburn, WA Home Business: Zoning & Home Occupation Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Requirements to operate outright
- All 11 under ACC 18.60.020
- Minimum to qualify for special permit
- At least 9 of 11
- Floor area cap
- 500 sq ft (except B&Bs)
- Nonresident employees
- Maximum of 2
- Employee hours
- 8am-6pm weekdays, 9am-6pm weekends
- Permit review type
- Type I decision, ACC Title 14
Summary
Auburn allows home occupations in any residential zone under a business license, but ACC 18.60.020 imposes 11 numbered requirements on floor area, employees, hours, parking, and vehicle trips before a special permit becomes necessary.
Home occupations are required to have a business license as issued by the city, comply with all city codes and ordinances, and shall be consistent with the following provisions. A home occupation shall meet all 11 of the requirements below. Home occupations not able to meet all 11 but not less than nine of the requirements below shall require a special home occupation permit per ACC 18.60.040... C. Occupied Floor Area. Offices, mercantile, food preparation for off-site consumption, personal care salons or similar uses which are conducted primarily by the occupants of the dwelling unit and are secondary to the use of the unit for dwelling purposes, and which do not exceed 500 square feet of the primary residence or accessory structure except for bed and breakfasts;
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 7023, passed July 6, 2026).
Full Breakdown
020 sets the baseline rulebook for running a business out of an Auburn home. 040 rather than an automatic denial. for customers; (J) a daily cap of five or eight two-way client/delivery trips depending on appointment structure; and (K) a total ban on outdoor storage of materials, goods, or equipment. 040(A) even if all 11 requirements are otherwise met, because the planning director must first find the use will not be materially detrimental to the vicinity.
Violations & Fines
Home occupations that cannot meet at least nine of the 11 ACC 18.60.020 requirements are not permitted at all; those meeting nine or 10 must obtain a special home occupation permit reviewed as a Type I decision under ACC Title 14, decided by the planning director or, if public comment shows substantial controversy, referred to the hearing examiner under Chapter 2.46 ACC. The city's business license process is the enforcement checkpoint, since a home occupation license requires compliance with all city codes and ordinances.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I run a home business anywhere in Auburn?
What happens if my home business doesn't meet all 11 Auburn requirements?
How much floor area can a home occupation use in Auburn?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Auburn
How Auburn compares: Easiest Cities to Run a Home Business·Compare Auburn to another location·View the Washington home business overview
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Zoning & Home Occupation Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in King County handle zoning & home occupation permits.