The Monroe County Board of Commissioners updated the county zoning ordinance Wednesday to clarify when home-based business owners need a permit.
The new exception exempts businesses which do not create external changes or disturbances. This includes activities such as sewing, writing, and working on a computer.
“This is allowing us to kind of streamline when people do and do not need a permit,” said Jacqueline Nester Jelen, assistant director of the county planning department. “since we've had a lot of question with a lot of remote working as of late.”
To qualify for the exception, she says home-based businesses must meet three criteria:
- No employees who live off-site or customers who visit or park vehicles
- No signage
- No deliveries other than those for residential use
Additionally, commissioners removed a provision which allowed for outdoor storage at home-based businesses or home operations.
“For home-based business and home occupation, we’re making it so that it’s more clear that the work must be conducted inside and that there is not going to be permission to have outdoor storage,” Jelen said.
However, she said businesses such as lawn care and contractors still need outdoor storage.
She suggests these businesses seek general contractor use, a category requiring conditional approval in the agriculture/rural reserve, forest reserve and conservation residential zones. Petitioners must meet several conditions, including:
- A minimum of 5 acres for the site
- Buildings must be at least 35 feet from the property line
- The person requesting the permit appears at one Board of Zoning Appeals meeting
“I’m very happy to see these changes made,” Commissioner Lee Jones said. “I think that probably we’re going to be seeing more and more home-based businesses and that’s probably a good thing for the county.”
The board of commissioners passed all zoning amendments by a 2-0 vote. Commissioner Julie Thomas was absent.
