Home occupations

The Town of Exeter recognized the need for some citizens to use their place of residence for limited nonresidential activities. Recent studies have shown that most of the businesses in town are small, employing less than four people, and that many of these businesses are home-based occupations. While the town wishes to encourage minor home-based activities, it also recognizes that the need to protect the integrity of its residential areas is of paramount concern. Therefore, the following criteria have been established to allow for home occupations that are compatible with the neighborhood in which they are located.

Criteria. Providing that all the following conditions are met, no permit is required for home occupations and a license is automatically granted by the Town of Exeter. However, all such commercial or business activities are required to register with the town.

• • 1. No employment or help other than the residents of the dwelling and two assisting nonresident employees. Anything greater should be a special use.

  • 2. Shall be conducted entirely within the dwelling unit and in no way shall the appearance of the structure be altered or the occupation within the residence be conducted in a manner which would cause the premises to differ from its residential character either by the use of colors, materials, construction, lighting, signs, or the emission of sounds, noises or vibrations.

  • 3. Shall not utilize more than 25 percent of the gross floor area in the dwelling unit or not more than 500 square feet.

  • 4. No outdoor use of material or equipment not recognized as being part of the normal practices in the residential district.

  • 5. No storage or display of materials, goods, supplies or equipment related to the operation of a home occupation shall be visible from outside the premises.

  • 6. No material, equipment or process shall be used in such home occupation which is hazardous to public health, safety, morals or welfare, or which creates noise, vibration, glare, fumes, odors or electrical interference detectable to the normal senses off the premises, if the occupation is conducted in a single-family residence, or outside the dwelling unit in other than a single-family residence. In case of electrical interference, no equipment or process shall be used which creates visual or audible interference in any radio or television receivers off the premises, or causes fluctuations in line voltage off the premises.

  • 7. There shall be no use of utilities or community facilities beyond that normal to the use of the premises for residential purposes.

  • 8. Customers visits or deliveries of products, merchandise or materials to or from the premises shall not exceed that normally and reasonably occurring for a residence.

  • 9. The use shall not generate pedestrian or vehicular traffic beyond what is normal to the residential area.

  • 10. With zoning board approval:

    • a. Barber shop, beauty salon, massage parlor.

    • b. Boarding, lodge or bed and breakfast or more than five rooms.

    • c. Health care provider, medical, dental, animal grooming facilities.

Cross reference— Businesses, ch. 18.