Discussion Item: Review of City Code Section 117-351 - Home Occupations Ordinance

Under staff direction from the City Council, a review and comparison of neighboring towns and their ordinances for home occupations, also known as home based businesses has been completed. This review specifically examines the number of employees, allowable outdoor storage and number of allowable vehicles on the property.  

The purpose of this agenda item is to discuss if Staff should further review and make changes to Section 117-351 of the city code.

Ramsey City Code currently has a section that allows small-scale home-based businesses with little to no exterior storage to operate out of a residential home under certain circumstances. The section of City Code is intended to protect the intent of a residential district and ensure that any home-based business is compatible and in harmony with the surrounding residential neighborhood. The intent is to allow some business incubation in residential areas, but should not be significantly visible or distracting to the surrounding neighborhood. The history of these regulations have evolved over the past ten (10) years.

• Circa 2009/2010, the City Council felt that the regulations were too restrictive. Essentially, any exterior evidence (vehicle or storage) could have triggered a violation, or so it was perceived. The City Council amended the regulations to create different tiers and a process to seek approval from City Council for uses with some outside storage.
• After a few Applications under the new ordinance were reviewed, it was determined that code language that was more clear, yet flexible was needed and that the recent amendment was too open ended. The City Council desired to have language that could better control and eliminate subjectivity for uses with multiple commercial vehicles and significant outside storage.
• A recent Application led to the City Council requesting an additional look at this section of City Code. The City Council still supports the concept of home-based business and incubation. However, the City Council feels that surrounding neighborhoods can be better protected by better code language.

Staff is seeking feedback on direction on the following broad topics related to home occupations.

• Should the City be more restrictive when it comes to the amount of outdoor storage allowed?
• Should the City be more restrictive when it comes to the number of commercial vehicles allowed to be stored on site? Should it be limited to one (1) commercial vehicle and trailer?
• Should the City be more restrictive when it comes to the number of employees that work on site, even if it is to park their personal vehicle and pick up their company vehicle?
• Are there particular home occupations that we should restrict or exclude? Uses that generate the highest number of complaints include, but are not limited to contractors, landscapers, etc.

This case is being handled as part of normal Staff duties.

No action is being requested. Staff recommends general consensus on whether or not an amendment to the City's Home Occupation Ordinance is desired.

No action is being requested. This topic is for discussion only. Provide general consensus on whether or not the Planning Commission supports an amendment to the Home Occupation Ordinance.