Multnomah County, OR Home Business: Zoning & Home Occupation Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Where allowed
- Any base zone, unincorporated county
- Size cap
- 20% of dwelling or 500 sq ft
- Employees on site
- 1 non-resident employee max
- Customers
- 2 at a time, 8 visits/day
- Approval type
- Registration, Type I decision
Summary
Unincorporated Multnomah County allows a Type A Home Occupation by ministerial registration in any base zone, with strict size, traffic and employee caps under the dwelling.
Type A home occupation is a lawful commercial activity that is conducted within a dwelling unit by a business operator, is subordinate to the residential use of the dwelling unit, is registered with the Planning Director by completing and filing a form provided by the Planning Director, and complies with the following: (1) Type A home occupation shall not exceed 20 percent of the gross floor area of the dwelling and attached garage, or 500 sq. ft., whichever is less.
Full Breakdown
The county code lets you run a small business from home in any base zone as a Type A Home Occupation: register with the Planning Director (no hearing, a Type I decision) and stay under 20% of the dwelling's gross floor area or 500 sq. ft., whichever is smaller. You get one non-resident employee, two customers on site at once, no more than eight customer visits a day, no outdoor storage or displays, no new signage, and no deliveries between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. Larger Type B and Type C home occupations exist for accessory buildings and higher-traffic operations, but Type C is confined to the RC, BRC, OR, PH-RC and SRC base zones. Portland, Gresham, Troutdale, Fairview and Wood Village run their own codes and are not covered here.
Violations & Fines
Operating over the size/traffic caps or without registering voids the Type A status; the Planning Director can require a discretionary Type B/C review or cite the use as an unpermitted commercial operation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to run a home business in unincorporated Multnomah County?
Does this apply if I live in Portland?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Multnomah County
How Multnomah County compares: Easiest Cities to Run a Home Business·Compare Multnomah County to another location·View the Oregon home business overview
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