Home Occupations and Professional Home Offices
WHEN:
You want to operate an occupation or profession out of your residence.
WHY:
Some types of work can be conducted at home with little or no effect on the surrounding neighborhood. The home occupation and professional home office regulations of the Kenosha County General Zoning & Shoreland/Floodplain Zoning Ordinance are intended to permit residents to engage in customary home occupations and professional home offices, while ensuring that such home occupations and professions will not be a detriment to the character and livability of the surrounding area. The regulations require that the residential viability of the dwelling unit is maintained. A Certificate of Compliance must be issued prior to the establishment of a Customary Home Occupation or Professional Home Office.
HOW:
It is recommended that you meet with County Development Staff prior to submitting your letter of operation for a home occupation or professional home office to discuss the particulars of your proposal. Please review the Home Occupation and Professional Home Offices Ordinance requirements and follow the Home Occupation and Professional Home Office Procedures. An example list follows of permitted and prohibited home occupations.
PERMITTED AND PROHIBITED HOME OCCUPATIONS
Examples of permitted home occupations include, but are not limited to:
- Accountants, financial advisors
- Architects
- Artists
- Attorneys
- Computer services including desk top publishing and word processing
- Family day care
- Offices for construction businesses (no equipment or material storage)
- Real estate sales
Examples of prohibited home occupations include, but are not limited to:
- Auto body repair or maintenance
- Auto or small engine repair or maintenance
- Catering services
- Firearms and ammunition sales
- Landscaping and lawn services
- Tattoo and body piercing
- Tree services
- Welding and machining
You must submit your letter of operation with the appropriate fee based upon the Kenosha County Department of Planning & Development Fee Schedule for the Certificate of Compliance.
Procedures:
Home Occupation and Professional Home Office Procedures
Ordinance Requirements:
Home Occupation and Professional Home Offices Ordinance
TIME:
You can anticipate that the review of your proposed operation will take approximately seven (7) to ten (10) working days dependent on the fact that the letter of operation and floor plan contains all pertinent information in relationship to the requirements for a Home Occupation and Professional Home Office as outlined in the Kenosha County General Zoning and Shoreland/Floodplain Zoning Ordinance.