NEWS                           

From the County of San Bernardino                          

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 20, 2000

For more information, contact

County Public Information Officer David Wert

(909) 387-4082

dwert@cao.co.san-bernardino.ca.us

 

Making home businesses work with neighborhoods

 

A growing number of San Bernardino County residents believe that when it comes to business, there's no place like home.

 

That's why the county is working with residents who have expressed an interest in this subject to review the county’s home occupation ordinance.

 

The goal of the review is to establish new rules allowing home businesses to lawfully exist while protecting the peace and quiet of our neighborhoods.

 

"Conducting a business from home has many positive benefits," said San Bernardino County 3rd District Supervisor Dennis Hansberger. "It reduces traffic on our highways, conserves energy, improves air quality, and allows people to be more flexible with their time. Home businesses can be great for families."

 

County planners have drafted several guidelines for the consideration of the San Bernardino County Planning Commission, which is scheduled to take up the issue during a hearing at its June 29 meeting. Any new ordinance would eventually have to be approved by the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors following another public hearing.

 

The revisions as proposed seek that balance between fostering home business and protecting the quality of neighborhood life by creating three classes of home businesses.

 

A Home Occupation Class I would be a business in which all contact with customers and co-workers is conducted by phone, mail or computer. Nothing is sold on the premises, except in the case of produce grown on the property. A permit would not be required for such a business, although one could be provided at the request of the proprietor.

-MORE-

 

Home Businesses

Page 2

 

 

Artists, writers, composers, teleworkers and network marketers would fall into this category.

 

Music teachers, pet groomers, hair stylists and gardeners would likely fall into the category of Home Occupation Class II. Home businesses in this category would be limited to an average of 10 trips per day by residents and customers, and customers would be seen by appointment only. Equipment could be transported from these locations for use at job sites and would have to be stored indoors.

 

A Home Occupation Class III would involve direct sales of products to the public and permit up to 20 trips per day, and again customer visits would be by appointment only. The business could include up to two employees who are not residents of the home -- up to five employees if the property sits on at least five acres and in a rural zone. A Class III home businesses would be allowed to display signs under certain guidelines.

 

Hours of operation for Class II and Class III home businesses would be limited to 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

 

None of these guidelines would apply to licensed day-care centers.

 

To further guarantee that neighborhoods wouldn't suffer from the activities of home businesses, the revised ordinance as proposed:

 

·        Limits vehicle and pedestrian traffic -- including commercial vehicles -- to what is normally experienced in residential neighborhoods.

 

·        Mandates that home businesses be conducted indoors.

 

·        Holds that structures on the premises cannot be altered by lighting, colors or -- in most cases -- signs.

 

·        Limits noise to 55 dBA.

 

·        Prohibits glare, smoke, fumes, odors and vibrations from affecting neighbors.

 

·        Prohibits motor vehicle repair, animal hospitals, gun and ammunition sales, kennels, massage parlors and medical offices.

 

-MORE-

 

Home Businesses

Page 3

 

 

Rules established by local homeowners associations, landlords, common-interest communities or housing cooperatives would supercede the provisions of the county's home occupation ordinance.

 

Residents and other interested parties can comment on the proposed changes before the June 29 Planning Commission hearing by contacting Senior Planner Jim Squire at (909) 387-4147 or by writing to Squire at:

 

County of San Bernardino,

Land Use Services Department

Attention: Jim Squire

385 N. Arrowhead Ave., Third Floor

San Bernardino CA 92415

 

The hearing will be held at the same address, on the First Floor, in the Board of Supervisors Hearing Chambers, at 9 a.m. on June 29. The hearing is open to everyone.

 

 

-30-