Locational Restrictions
Home occupations are allowed in the following zones:
- Single-Family Residential (RS), Residential Agriculture (RA), Multifamily Residential-I (RM-I), Multifamily Residential-II (RM-II, Multifamily Residential-III (RM-III), Commercial Office (CO), Retail Commercial (CR), General Commercial (CG), Central Business District (CB), West Salem Central Business District (WSCB, Fairview Mixed Use (FMU), South Waterfront Mixed-Use (SWMU), Neighborhood Hub (NH), Mixed Use-I (MU-I), Mixed Use-II (MU-II), Mixed Use-III (MU-III), Mixed Use-Riverfront (MU-R), Edgewater/Second Street Mixed-Use Corridor (ESMU), Capital Mall (PM), Industrial Commercial (IC), Industrial Park (IP), and General Industrial (IG)
Types of Businesses
Home occupations can provide a service but cannot include on-site sales. Some examples of businesses that are allowed include the following:
- Massage therapist
- Dress-making or alterations
- Mail-order business
- Caterer
- Home office of a lawyer or accountant
People Involved in the Business
- Resident operated: You must live on the property to operate a home business.
- One non-resident: Only one non-resident employee or volunteer can work on your property.
- Additional people: Additional people may be employed by or associated with your home business as long as they do not report to work or pick up/deliver at your property.
- No gatherings: Your property cannot be used as a gathering place for non-resident people who work off-site.
Structural Limitations
- Enclosed structures: Business operations must occur in enclosed structures and cannot give the appearance of a business.
- Accessory structures: The total floor area of all accessory structures used in connection with your home business cannot cover more than five percent of the total lot area.
- Business space: The total floor area of all buildings and accessory structures used in connection with your home business cannot exceed 25 percent of the habitable space of your home.
- Alterations: No alterations can be made to the building that would prevent it from being used exclusively as a residence in the future.
- Off-street parking: No alterations to your property can be made that would reduce the number of off-street parking spaces required for your residence(s) under SRC Chapter 806.
Vehicles and Parking
- Customer parking: Parking of customer's or client's vehicles cannot create a hazard or excessive congestion.
- Deliveries and pick-ups: Delivery and pick-up of materials can only be made by vehicles not exceeding two axles in size.
Storage
- Hazardous materials: On-site storage of hazardous materials not normally incidental to household living, such as toxic, explosive, noxious, combustible, or flammable materials is prohibited.
- Outside storage or display: Outside storage or display of materials, equipment, or merchandise used or produced in connection with your home business is prohibited.
Signage
- Business Signage: Signs that are no more than one square foot by one square foot (1x1), that are not illuminated, are permitted without a sign permit. Larger signage, illuminated signage and additional signage may be permitted with a sign permit depending on the zoning of the property.
Respectful Business Operation
Your home business cannot create a public or private nuisance such as the following:
- Noise or vibrations
- Odors, fumes, or smoke
- Fire hazard
A Home Occupation cannot be operation on the same lot as a Live Work unit.
