Sept. 19, 2008
King County is proposing a common sense change to land use regulations to make it easier for home-based businesses and their customers in rural areas. King County Executive Ron Sims is recommending the change after it was learned current regulations prevented customers of a horseshoe supply shop from picking up and paying for their purchases while on the owner's property. The proposed changes promote and encourage compatible home-based businesses in a way that fits with the surrounding neighborhoods and rural character.
Current regulations only allow rural home based businesses to sell products that are grown or fabricated on the property or that are provided as part of a service, such as a beauty salon. The well-intentioned regulation is designed to reduce traffic and noise in rural areas. However, for rural home-based businesses that provide products used in agriculture and forestry, the current code creates unnecessary burdens. In one specific case brought to Executive Sims' attention, customers of Northwest Horseshoe Supply near Maple Valley had to park off site, walk to the to business, select the items they wanted and then phone in their order and payment while standing in the shop. An employee would carry the purchase to the customer's vehicle.
Under the proposed changes, rural based home occupations would be able to make on-site retail sales of goods that support traditional rural industries - agriculture, equestrian, and forestry - on sites that are at least five acres. That means customers can shop and pay for purchases as is done in any other operation. The proposed ordinance also removes some language from the existing code that could be interpreted as limiting the types of activities that may be conducted as home occupations.
"When people alerted us to the ridiculous situation created for horse owners and a business they need, we set to work to change the code," said King County Executive Ron Sims. "These changes not only help home-based businesses, they should help improve the economic vitality of rural areas."
The Department of Development and Environmental Services (DDES) took public comment on the proposed changes and found strong support for the changes.
The proposed changes have gone to the King County Council for review and approval.