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Ramsey, MN Code of Ordinances Page 1 of 2
<br />Sec. 117-351. - Home occupations.
<br />Home occupations shall be allowed to exist in the residential zoning districts in accordance with certain criteria established to protect the peace, quiet, and
<br />domestic tranquility in all residential neighborhoods within the city, and in order to guarantee all residents freedom from excessive noise, excessive traffic,
<br />nuisance, fire hazard and other possible effects of said home occupation uses. It is the intent of this section that the property owner shall have a vested interest in
<br />the business, as the city does not desire to create business incubators for lease within the residential districts. Applications for a home occupation permit shall be
<br />processed administratively by the zoning administrator; or when circumstances necessitate, in accordance with the processing procedure established for
<br />conditional use permits in section 117-51. Home occupation permits may be suspended or revoked pursuant to the procedure established in section 117-51.
<br />(1) Requirements. Home occupations that operate under the following parameters shall be exempt from a permit. If a home occupation operates beyond the
<br />conditions below or if the home occupation creates conditions described in subsection (2), a permit shall be required.
<br />a. The home occupation shall be clearly incidental and secondary to the residential use of the premises, and shall result in no incompatibility with or
<br />disturbance to the surrounding area.
<br />b. The owner of the home occupation shall occupy the dwelling unit on the site of the home occupation.
<br />c. Home occupation operations are restricted to the dwelling unit, attached or detached garages or accessory buildings. If the owner of a home
<br />occupation is conducting operations in a detached accessory building, said accessory building must be located on the same parcel as the owners
<br />dwelling unit, or a parcel immediately adjacent to the owner's dwelling, to which the owner also has fee title.
<br />d. The area set aside for the home occupation in the dwelling unit shall not exceed 20 percent of the gross living area of the dwelling unit.
<br />e. The area set aside for the home occupation in attached or detached accessory buildings or garages shall not exceed total accessory building space or
<br />height allowed on the site of the home occupation, as established in section 117-349.
<br />f. A minimum of 400 square feet of garage or accessory building space shall be maintained as a primary residential garage for indoor parking of vehicles
<br />and equipment.
<br />g. There shall not be any exterior evidence of the existence of said home occupation such as displays, exterior storage of home occupation equipment
<br />and vehicles, materials, supplies, inventory or merchandise, with the following exceptions:
<br />1. One motor vehicle affiliated with the home occupation, either meeting the definition of a commercial vehicle or any vehicle having lettering or
<br />advertising for said home occupation, shall be allowed to be stored or parked outside on the site of the home occupation in accordance with
<br />section 117-355.
<br />2. One piece of commercial equipment affiliated with the home occupation shall be allowed to be stored or parked on the site of the home
<br />occupation in accordance with section 117-355.
<br />h. There shall be no interior signs or display which are visible from outside the dwelling unit or accessory building where the home occupation is
<br />operated nor any exterior business signs or displays unless otherwise permitted in article II division 8 of this chapter, with the following exception:
<br />1. A sign not exceeding two square feet in size may be displayed if affixed flat against the wall of either the home or accessory building where the
<br />home occupation is being conducted. The sign shall be non -illuminated and shall not have dynamic display capabilities.
<br />i. The home occupation shall not generate excessive vehicular traffic (customers, employees, deliveries, etc.) in the residential neighborhood. Excessive
<br />vehicular traffic for purposes of this section is defined as in excess of any combination of eight round-trip customer/client visits and/or deliveries per
<br />standard eight hour day and no more than one on the premises at any given time. For the purposes of this section, one customer/client visit shall be
<br />considered to include any number of persons arriving in a single vehicle. One round-trip visit per eligible employee shall also be allowed and is not
<br />counted toward the customer/client visits. An increase at a rate of 25 percent is permitted if the subject property has access from a county, state, or
<br />MSA street.
<br />j. The home occupation does not serve as headquarters or as a dispatch center where employees come to the site and are then dispatched to other
<br />locations.
<br />k. The receipt or shipment of deliveries shall be limited to those made by the USPS and/or an express shipping service that is characteristic of service to a
<br />residential neighborhood.
<br />I. The home occupation shall not constitute a fire hazard to neighboring residences, or a nuisance to neighbors because of excessive traffic, light glare,
<br />noise, odors, vibration or other circumstances, as determined by the fire marshal or zoning administrator.
<br />m. The home occupation shall not include operations relating to internal combustion engines, body shops, ammunition manufacturing, motor vehicle
<br />repairs or sale, or any other objectionable uses as determined by the zoning administrator.
<br />n. The home occupation shall not change the fire rating of a structure nor require exterior alterations or modifications that change the residential
<br />character or appearance of the dwelling unit or accessory building to a commercial nature.
<br />(2) Administrative home occupation permit required. Home occupations that include one or more of the following practices or operational methods shall require
<br />a home occupation permit that is subject to the review and approval of the zoning administrator.
<br />a. The home occupation employs persons, which includes but is not limited to co-owners, partners, and employees), that do not live in the dwelling unit
<br />on the property but conduct work on the property.
<br />1. The owner of a home occupation on a parcel less than three acres in size may employ a maximum of one person that does not reside in the
<br />dwelling unit on the property but does conduct work on the property. The owner of a home occupation on a parcel three acres or greater in size
<br />may employ a maximum of three persons that do not reside in the dwelling unit on the property but do conduct work on the property.
<br />2. Off-street parking for the dwelling unit occupants and any nonresident employees is provided in accordance with section 117-355.
<br />b. The home occupation involves operating methods that include transactions with the public (customers, clients, consultants, subcontractors, etc.) on
<br />the site of the home occupation. The number of persons permitted on the site at any given time shall be limited so as not to create a parking demand
<br />in excess of that which can be accommodated on driveway on the site of the home occupation.
<br />c. Retail sales are conducted on the site. Retail sales at the site shall be limited to products that are ancillary to the home occupation and shall be
<br />displayed or stored indoors.
<br />(3) Conditional use. Home occupations that propose to operate beyond the scope of the parameters in subsection (1) and/or (2) of this section shall be
<br />processed in accordance with the procedures established for conditional use permits in section 117-51 with the exception of recording the home
<br />occupation permit should it be approved by city council.
<br />(4) Nuisance prevention. In order to guarantee that a home occupation, once authorized, will not become a nuisance to the neighbors or otherwise violate
<br />these guidelines, the city staff or city council may impose reasonable conditions necessary to protect the public health, safety, and welfare of residents of
<br />the city.
<br />(5)
<br />about:blank 1/26/2016
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