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

65 sets the zoning framework for running a business out of a Kirkland home. Its stated purpose is to allow limited commercial activity incidental to residential use while protecting neighbors from excessive noise, traffic, nuisance and fire hazard. A home occupation is permitted as an accessory use to a single-family dwelling, a multifamily unit, or an Accessory Dwelling Unit, and it must be located at the operator's principal residence; a City business license is required for every home occupation. To qualify outright under subsection 4, the use must be run by dwelling residents plus no more than two other business participants (employees or contractors) visiting per day; it may not use outdoor storage, including equipment stored on vehicles; it cannot alter the dwelling's exterior or interior in a way that changes its residential character; it is capped at 500 square feet of floor area, including any accessory structure space; and it is limited to one commercial vehicle meeting weight, height and length caps.

22(2), and the City may approve it if it will not harm the neighborhood's character, will not add outdoor storage of materials or machinery (unless screened and free of noise, odor, heat or glare), will not create a nuisance condition, and will not generate excessive traffic or parking. 12 KMC, Code Enforcement.