TITLE
Recommendation to declare ordinance amending the Long Beach Municipal Code by amending Section 21.51.235 and deleting
Table 51-2, all relating to home occupations, read and adopted as read. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
In August 2011, City Council directed staff to review the City’s policies and regulations for home occupations to include masonry and plumbing contractors as permitted uses. This request was based on the all-time high unemployment numbers in California and the need to allow self-employment for these types of skilled building trades in residential zones. After evaluating the request, planning staff supports restructuring the Zoning Code to allow for a wider variety of uses while still maintaining the required regulations to retain the overall character of the residential unit where the use will operate.
On October 20, 2011, the Planning Commission considered an Amendment to Section 21.51.235 of the Zoning Code to clarify the operational requirements for home occupation uses and establish new parameters for acceptable uses (Exhibit A - October 20, 2011 Planning Commission Staff Report). After a brief discussion, the Planning Commission unanimously voted to recommend approval of the request to City Council.
A home occupation permit is intended to allow for certain types of businesses to be operated from a residential dwelling that are incidental to the use of the dwelling unit and do not change the principal character of the residential unit. The most common home occupations are office uses for businesses such as accountants, internet sales, certain types of contractors and other similar operations where the primary means of contact are by phone, mail, internet or other similar means. Other types of home occupations include instructional services (music teachers, tutors, etc.) and home crafts.
The current Municipal Code sets forth the operational requirements and includes a specific list of home occupation uses that fall under the permitted...
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