Bothell, WA Home Business: Zoning & Home Occupation Permits (2026)

The residential uses table in BMC 12.06.140 marks home occupations permitted (P) in the R-C, R-L1/RL2, R-M1 through R-M3, R-M4, R-MHP and R-AC columns, and not permitted in OP, NB, CB, GC and LI. The city defines a home occupation as an occupation or profession carried on in the primary residential structure or accessory building by a member of the family residing on the premises and incidental to the use of the premises as a dwelling unit.

Condition 8 sets the operating standards. The home occupation shall be subordinate to the primary use of the premises as a dwelling unit (8(a)). All activities shall be conducted indoors (8(b)). The business shall be conducted by a resident of the dwelling unit plus no more than one additional person not residing in the dwelling unit (8(c)). Home occupations are not allowed in accessory buildings within the rear yard setback, except when conducted in an accessory dwelling unit on an alley meeting all other setback provisions (8(f)).

Noise has its own clock. Home occupations in accessory buildings shall not permit noise to intrude into another residential property at a level at or above 45 decibels outside the hours of 7:00 a.m. through 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m. on Saturday (8(g)).

Two more parts of condition 8 are covered on their own pages: the client contact and vehicle trip limits in 8(d), and the list of prohibited activities in 8(e), which bars vehicle and heavy equipment repair, outside storage and vehicles over 10,000 pounds gross weight.