Council updates zoning code to reflect state law on home‑based businesses

City planning staff presented an ordinance amending Chapter 14 (zoning) to align local home‑office and home‑based business rules with recent state legislation cited in the meeting as “House Bill 24 64.” Staff explained the new law limits municipal authority to require permits for primarily virtual businesses and prohibits some categories of local regulation unless activity is visible from the street or materially increases traffic or noise.

Council members asked whether the change would reduce the city’s ability to address employee parking or visible equipment. Staff said municipal powers related to health, sanitation, building, fire and noise still apply and clarified enforcement will depend on observable conditions (for example, visible equipment parked in yards or significant additional on‑street parking). Several council members noted the new state law narrows local discretion and thanked staff for drafting the compliance amendments.

The council moved and approved the ordinance to amend the home‑office provisions of the zoning code to comply with state law; the transcript records a voice 'Aye' when council called for the vote. Staff and council signaled they will monitor enforcement challenges and may revisit local code language if statutory interpretation issues arise.