Should Everett’s in-home businesses be given more latitude?

EVERETT – Allowing more leeway for home-based businesses – including the ability to conduct in-home sales and employ up to two people – would boost business start-ups and expand the city’s coffers, according to a proposal before Everett City Council.

The proposal is approved by the city’s planning office and would change the zoning ordinances that govern home squatting in the city. The revisions are needed to reflect the shift towards working from home and from home, city officials say.

“Home jobs are a real part of our economy,” Dan Eernissee, Everett director of economic development, told the council during the remote meeting last week. However, councilors, who will take a second look at the measure on Wednesday, fear these changes could exacerbate the city’s traffic and parking problems.

The new proposal would “modestly” increase the ability for home workers to greet customers and pay taxes while also setting “clear boundaries”, officials from the planning department said.

No more than two customers can be in an in-home shop at the same time. Signs would be forbidden. Business hours are limited on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on weekends from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The planning department looked at how other cities accommodate home offices and then worked closely with the city’s code enforcement team to draft changes, Eernissee said.

Benefits to the city include starting new businesses, creating local jobs, and increasing revenue from business licenses and applicable taxes. Benefits for residents include better access to local goods and services, Eernissee said.

Among other changes, the proposal would lift an existing ban on home hair and beauty salons, as well as customer-facing businesses such as home real estate agencies.

In-home businesses are allowed to serve up to 10 customers per day and conduct on-site retail sales – currently not allowed.

The proposal would allow domestic companies to employ two people who do not live there. Now they have to move to a commercial site when hiring their first employee, said Eernissee.

The move would give owners the opportunity to “fine-tune” their ventures before moving to commercial space, Eernissee said, allowing for “a more gradual surge in growth.”

Specifically, the measure prohibits commercial wedding and event venues, veterinary clinics, auto sales and services, adult shops, and the sale of firearms and ammunition.

The last point – a ban on selling firearms at home – may not be legal.

If home retail sales are allowed, home gun sales may also be allowed under state law, a city attorney pointed out.

The prospect of arms sales at home did not go down well with councilors.

City Council President Brenda Stonecipher said it would be better to remove the retail sale clause if that means allowing firearms to be sold.

“I’m not sure that including retail sales is worth the requirement … to allow guns to be sold in a residential zone,” Stonecipher said.

Councilor Paul Roberts said: “The more general question is whether or not we want to allow retail sales in residential areas.”

Other council members, including Scott Murphy, said they could encourage “random sales” of such hair products by a home-based stylist or hairdresser.

During the public comment period, Greg Lineberry, who is running for District 2 of the council, said he was approached by a hairdresser last year who was concerned about working in a busy salon during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“She wanted to set up a small work area in her home, but unfortunately community regulations prevented this type of home work,” Lineberry said.

The city council will look at the proposal again on Wednesday. A vote on the measure is expected on September 1st.

To attend this week’s Everett City Council virtual meeting, visit everettwa.gov/citycouncil. To view the proposal in full, go to bit.ly/3D9QcuY.

Janice Podsada; [email protected]; 425-339-3097; Twitter: JanicePods