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

Chapter 20.20 ECDC governs home occupations citywide. ECDC 20.20.010 allows a home occupation as a permitted secondary use in any residential zone if it meets eight conditions in subsection (A): it must be carried on exclusively by a family member residing in the dwelling, conducted entirely within the structures on site without significant outdoor activity, use no heavy equipment or power tools uncommon to a residence, have no pickup or delivery by commercial vehicles over 20,000 pounds gross vehicle weight, create no noise, dust, glare, vibration, odor or smoke beyond normal residential impact, have no employees besides resident family members, comply with the performance criteria of ECDC 17.60.010, and not park more than one commercial vehicle, or any commercial vehicle over 10,000 pounds, per dwelling unit under ECDC 17.50.100.

A business that cannot meet one or more of those eight conditions can instead seek a Type II staff-approved permit under subsection (B) if it satisfies a parallel set of criteria on animal keeping, enclosed storage, noise and glare, and customer or employee visit limits. Subsections (C) and (D) carve out separate tracks for urban farming and artist studios that relax the enclosed-structure and no-visitor rules under specific conditions. Every home occupation approved under any of these tracks must also hold a city business license under Chapter 4.72 ECC before starting operations, per ECDC 20.20.010(E).