Nampa panel approves two home-based gun businesses with conditions

The Nampa Planning and Zoning Commission on June 10 approved conditional use permits allowing two home-based firearm businesses to operate in single-family residential zones, subject to building-permit, mechanical-ventilation and federal licensing requirements.

Commission staff and neighbors told the commission the approvals are conditioned on compliance with city building codes and federal firearms rules; the decisions signal the city will allow limited firearms-related work in homes when applicants meet zoning and safety standards.

Planning staff told commissioners the applications require both a conditional use permit and a home-occupation permit and that building-department review could require mechanical ventilation if chemicals or processes generate fumes. Planning staff said a federal firearms license (FFL) is also required. "A mechanical permit will need to be obtained for the ventilation system," staff said.

Mark Bigler, who told the commission he lives at 5616 East Walbrook, said his work would be primarily hand-tool gunsmithing and laser etching, not heavy machining. He described a partial-week schedule and limited in-person customer contact: "Probably 4 days a week. Probably early mornings from 7 or so until about noon, 01:00, working on actual hardware. Then the rest of the time I've got an office... Shipping stuff out, having stuff shipped in, no foot traffic," he said. Bigler told the commission he stores customer firearms in dedicated safes and estimated "5 to 10" customer guns on hand at one time.

Neighbors asked about safety and testing. Megan Markley, who said she lives on East Milam Street, asked whether designs or modifications could make firearms unsafe for the neighborhood; staff and the applicant pointed to ATF oversight. Jeff Wire, who lives two houses from Bigler, asked whether any test firing would take place at the home and about liability coverage. Bigler replied, "All firing of guns would be done out at a range," and said he planned to obtain liability insurance through private carriers.

A second applicant, William Bullock of 30 North Sunset Street, told the commission he intends to sell firearms and conduct transfers primarily online and "by appointment only," with no storefront or walk-in traffic. Staff described Bullock's proposal as similar to the other application but noted it includes no gunsmithing or manufacturing.

Commissioners questioned how the city enforces conditions. Staff explained the complaint process: if two separate households report a problem, planning staff will investigate and may recommend revocation of a conditional use permit. Staff also said that if a required building permit is not obtained within the six-month window that the conditional use permit is valid for, "the conditional use permit would expire."

Commissioners moved and approved both permits. Commissioner Morgan moved to approve the Mark Bigler permit; the motion carried. A separate motion to approve the Bullock permit also passed. Staff reminded applicants that the permits become effective 15 calendar days after written decisions are provided unless an appeal is filed.

The approvals attach standard conditions: compliance with Nampa building and home-occupation rules, securing any required mechanical or building permits, maintaining required federal licensing, and following building-department directions for any required ventilation or chemical handling. The commission recorded no numeric vote tallies in the meeting record; staff said appeals may be filed with the planning department within the 15-day window.