A Colorado Springs home occupation must be secondary to the residential use and may be conducted only within an enclosed accessory structure, attached or detached garage, or the dwelling, excluding porches; it may use no more than one-half the dwelling's total first floor area and may not create noise, dust, vibration, smell, smoke, glare, electrical interference, fire hazard, traffic congestion, or any other nuisance that disturbs a residential zone.
City Code section 7.5.1503 sets the substantive zoning standards. The home occupation must be secondary to the residential use of the dwelling (7.5.1503.F) and may be conducted only within an enclosed accessory structure, attached or detached garage, or dwelling, excluding porches, with limited exceptions for growing plants and cottage food sales (7.5.1503.D). The total area used for the home occupation cannot exceed an area equivalent to one-half (1/2) the total first floor area of the dwelling, excluding porches (7.5.1503.E). The activity may not create noise, dust, vibration, smell, smoke, glare, electrical interference, fire hazard, congestion to traffic flow, parking problems, or any other nuisance that disturbs the peace and quiet of a residential zone (7.5.1503.A), and required off-street parking for the principal residential use may not be reduced or made unusable (7.5.1503.H). Receipt or delivery of merchandise is limited to U.S. mail, similar parcel delivery, or private vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of ten thousand (10,000) pounds or less (7.5.1503.I). Interior alterations may not eliminate the kitchen, dining area, bathrooms, living room, or all bedrooms (7.5.1503.J), and exterior alterations or new construction that are commercial in appearance are prohibited (7.5.1503.K). Section 7.5.1501 explains the purpose: to ensure home occupations remain compatible with the residential character of the zone and do not introduce commercial or industrial uses.
A home occupation that exceeds the one-half floor-area limit, operates outside permitted locations, or creates a prohibited nuisance fails the 7.5.1503 standards and is unlawful under 7.5.1502; the City enforces it as a zoning violation through Neighborhood Services with notices of violation, abatement, and municipal penalties.
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