The City of Othello recognizes the need of some citizens to use their place of residence for business activities, especially today with the ease of telecommuting.

Any type of business activity occurring in a residence is referred to as a Home Occupation.

While Home Occupations are permitted in any residential zone, the City understands that the need to protect the residential character of residential areas is a vital concern to the community. In some instances the City will allow limited business activity in a residence, but not to the point where the business is more prominent than the residence.
 

Permissible home occupations include but are not limited to the following:

(1)    Accountant and tax consultants;

(2)    Artists and writers;

(3)    Architects and draftsmen;

(4)    Dressmakers, seamstresses and tailors;

(5)    Music or dance teachers;

(6)    Catering and party decorators;

(7)    Office facilities used in conjunction with business activities conducted off the premises, e.g., clergymen, salesmen, brokers, professional persons, etc.;

(8)    Tutoring;

(9)    Massage parlors;

(10)    Small appliance repair.

Special Requirements for Home Occupations

• The above home occupations are limited to one client at a time.
• No person other than members of the family residing on the premises shall be engaged in such occupation.
• The use of the dwelling unit for the home occupation shall be clearly incidental and subordinate to its use for residential purposes by its occupants, and not more than thirty percent of the floor area of the dwelling unit shall be used in the conduct of the home occupation. 
• There shall be no change in the outside appearance of the building or premises, or other visible evidence of the conduct of such home occupation other than one sign, not exceeding one square foot in area, non-illuminated, and mounted flat against the wall of the principal building.
• No home occupation shall be conducted in any accessory building.
• There shall be no retail sales of merchandise in connection with such home occupation.
• No traffic shall be generated by such home occupation in greater volumes than would normally be expected in a residential neighborhood, and any need for parking generated by the conduct of such home occupation shall be met off the street and other than in a required front yard.
• No equipment or process shall be used in such home occupation which creates noise, vibration, glare, fumes, odors or electrical interference detectable to the normal senses off the lot, if the occupation is conducted in a single-family residence, or outside the dwelling unit if conducted in other than a single-family residence. In the case of electrical interference, no equipment or process shall be used which creates visual or audible interference in any radio or television receivers off the premises, or causes fluctuations in line voltage off the premises. 
• For additional information on Home Occupations, please see Chapter 17.59 of the Othello Municipal Code.

Prohibited Occupations

Prohibited home occupations include but are not limited to the following:

(1)    Barber shops;

(2)    Beauty parlors;

(3)    Kennels;

(4)    Stables;

(5)    Animal hospitals;

(6)    Pet grooming;

(7)    Real estate offices;

(8)    Restaurants;

(9)    Medical and dental clinics;

(10)    Vehicle repair, painting, servicing and renting;

(11)    Welding and metal work;

(12)    Cabinet, carpentry, and paint shops;

(13)    Mortuaries;

(14)    Private or nursery schools;

(15)    Private clubs.