AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 190 OF THE RIDGEWOOD VILLAGE CODE, LAND USE AND DEVELOPMENT, TO PERMIT HOME OFFICE USES IN ALL RESIDENTIAL ZONES OF THE VILLAGE UNDER CERTAIN TERMS AND CONDITIONS.

BE IT ORDAINED by the Village Council of the Village of Ridgewood that Chapter 190 of the Ridgewood Village Code, Land Use and Development, is hereby amended to include "Home Office Uses" under certain terms and conditions specifically set forth in the ordinance.

Section 1. The purposes of this ordinance are to:

A. Permit, on a limited basis, certain home offices as described in this ordinance. The permitted home offices shall be incidental to the residential uses of the premises, compatible with residential uses, and limited in extent, degree and time. The permitted conduct under this ordinance shall not detract from the residential character and quality of the neighborhood.

B. Protect residential areas from any adverse impacts associated with home offices and protect residential property values.

C. Ensure that the health, safety and welfare of neighbors and residents are protected and that those rights are not compromised in any manner whatsoever by the operation of the particular home office.

D. Establish performance criteria and standards for home offices that will provide fair and equitable administration and enforcement of this ordinance.

Section 2. "Home Office" is defined as follows:

Home Office - Any non-residential office activity conducted or engaged in by a person within the residential dwelling occupied as his or her permanent residence for financial gain or as a volunteer or otherwise without monetary compensation. A home office is an accessory use to the primary use of the property, which is residential.

Section 3. The following standards shall govern "Home Offices":

A. The gross floor area devoted to the home office shall not exceed twenty-five (25%) percent of the gross floor area of the dwelling, or five hundred (500) square feet, whichever is less.

B. The permitted home office shall be accessed only from the residential area of the home and there shall not be a separate entrance from the home office area to the outside of the home.

C. The permitted home office shall utilize only typical office equipment, e.g. telephones, computers, typewriters, fax machines and copying machines. The permitted home office shall utilize only typical office supplies necessary to operate the permitted office equipment.

D. The operation of the home office shall not be evident from the exterior of the home. As an example, there shall be no signs, onsite parking or architectural features that would indicate a non-residential use.

E. The permitted home office shall not be visited by customers or clients and shall only be visited by persons making routine deliveries or service calls to service the permitted equipment.

F. No inventory shall be stored in the residential premises or in the area dedicated to the home office. "Inventory" is defined as follows: "personal property intended for sale or deliver.' to another party."

G. No commercial vehicles of any nature shall be parked either on-site or offsite, except for the purpose of making a permitted delivery or service call.

H. No signs shall be permitted on the exterior or interior of the home, which shall advertise or indicate the location of the home office. The only permitted sign shall be those to identify the residence as set forth in Section 190-122C(1) of the Village Code.

I. The permitted home office shall not conduct on-site wholesale or retail sales of any nature, unless conducted via telecommunications equipment and not involve the shipment or delivery of merchandise to or from the location housing the home office.

J. The permitted home office shall only be conducted by or employ or utilize as assistants, whether for gain or not, residents of the home and such home shall be their permanent legal residence.

Section 4. Except as herein amended and supplemented, Chapter 190 of the Ridgewood Village Code, Land Use and Development, remains in full force and effect.

Section 5. This ordinance shall take effect immediately upon passage and publication as required by law.

**Webmasters Note: The previous Ordinance is an uncodified amendment to the Land Use Code and will be inserted upon codification.

**Webmasters Note: Ordinance No.2983 is repealed as per Ordinance No. 3035