Business Licenses: Home Occupation Regulations

The City of Longview does require a business license to operate a home occupation within the city.  The business license fee is $50.00 a year and businesses are required to pay a quarterly business and occupation tax of 2/10 of 1% of revenue received ($2 for every $1,000 received) for providing services, or 1/10 of 1% of revenue received ($1 for every $1,000 received) for other home occupations.

Zoning

Home occupations are permitted within the following zones:

• Residential District, R-1
• Residential District, R-2
• Residential District, R-3
• Residential District, R-4
• Suburban Residential District, S-R
• Mobile/Manufactured Homes Subdivision District, M-S-H**
• Planned Unit Development, PUD
• River Front District, RF-1

**Businesses located in mobile home and trailer parks must have approval of park manager.

Regulations

Home Occupations provide residents an opportunity to use their homes as a place of livelihood for the production and/or supplementation of personal income. However, the following standards must be met:

• A dwelling must maintain the residential character of the area. The business contained within such a dwelling must not generate more vehicular or pedestrian traffic than is normal for a dwelling in a neighborhood in the zoning district in which it is located.
• A dwelling in which there is located an office or place of business shall not give the appearance of a commercial enterprise.
• Home occupations are restricted to not more than 30% of useful floor area of the dwelling in which they are located. The principle use of the dwelling must remain residential.
• No detached accessory buildings may be used for home occupations.
• Only persons residing in the dwelling may be engaged in the home occupation.
• The conduct of any home occupation including, but not limited to the storage of goods and equipment, shall not reduce or render unusable required off street parking.
• No goods or merchandise shall be displayed or sold on the premises.
• Home occupations shall not be permitted where the same shall require external alteration of the dwelling or involve construction features not customarily found in the dwelling.
• No stock in trade or merchandise is to be kept on the premises other than inventory and incidental supplies which are necessary for the conduct of the home occupation.
• No noise, dust, odors, noxious fumes, or other vibrations resulting from the home occupation shall exceed that which is normally produced in a single family dwelling.
• One sign is permitted to advertise the home occupation; however, such signs shall be no larger than one square foot in area, non illuminated, and must be attached to the dwelling.

If you have any questions about any of these regulations, please contact the City of Longview Community Development Department.