Washington County, OR Home Business: Zoning & Home Occupation Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Type I floor area cap
- 600 sq ft or 25% of dwelling
- Type II/III floor area cap
- 1,000 sq ft outside UGB
- Type III district limit
- AF-5 and AF-10 only
- Type III minimum lot size
- 5 acres, public road access
- Permit renewal
- Annual, all tiers
- Applies to
- Unincorporated Washington County only
Summary
Washington County requires a home occupation permit, renewed every year, before any home-based business operates in the unincorporated area. The permit tier limits how much of the dwelling the business can occupy, from 600 square feet for a Type I use up to 1,000 square feet for a Type III use on a five-acre AF-5 or AF-10 parcel.
[§430-63.1] A.Require the applicant to obtain a permit that shall be renewed annually;B.Be operated entirely within the applicant's dwelling. Use of outdoor areas is not allowed;C.Including storage of materials and products, occupy:(1)Not more than 600 square feet or 25% of the dwelling, whichever is greater; or(2)An area exceeding the above maximums by up to 10%, when requested by an applicant with a disability. [§430-63.3] A.Be allowed only in the AF-5 and AF-10 Districts;B.Require the applicant to obtain a permit which shall be renewed annually through the Type II procedure. The Type II renewal permit shall be subject to any conditions imposed through the Type III procedure and the conditions shall only be modified via the Type III procedure; ... L.Be located on a lot or parcel that is at least 5 acres in size and with direct access to a public road (use of an easement or shared driveway is prohibited);
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Community Development Code: Supplement 2 | Code of Ordinances: Supplement 25).
Full Breakdown
The Community Development Code divides home occupations into four tiers keyed to intensity: exempt, Type I, Type II, and Type III. 1(C) caps the business's footprint, including storage of materials and products, at not more than 600 square feet or 25% of the dwelling, whichever is greater, with a 10% increase available for an applicant with a disability. 2(A) and (D) carry the same annual-renewal requirement into Type II, which may occupy a garage or lawful accessory structure and, outside the urban growth boundary, up to 1,000 square feet or 25% of the structure.
3(L) requires the parcel to be at least 5 acres with direct access to a public road, since an easement or shared driveway is prohibited. 3(B), with any conditions imposed at Type III review carried forward. All three tiers restrict the business vehicle to a single commuter vehicle, cap weekly deliveries, and forbid remodeling that changes the dwelling's residential exterior. Because this is county code, the permit and its floor-area, vehicle, and district standards bind only home occupations sited in the unincorporated area.
Violations & Fines
Operating a home occupation without the required Type I, II, or III permit, or beyond the floor-area, district, or vehicle limits set for the permit held, is a code violation the county can enforce on complaint. Because the permit must be renewed annually under Sections 430-63.1(A), 430-63.2(A), and 430-63.3(B), letting the renewal lapse while continuing to operate also puts the business out of compliance and can trigger the county's general nuisance and land use enforcement process, including required cessation until a valid permit is reinstated.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to run a business from my home in Washington County?
How much of my house can a home business use?
Can I run a Type III home occupation anywhere in the county?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Washington County
How Washington County compares: Easiest Cities to Run a Home Business·Compare Washington County to another location·View the Oregon home business overview
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