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Bicknell council amends building code section and sends home‑occupation ordinance back for edits and a streamlined business license
Summary
The council voted to amend Section 16 of the town’s building and zoning ordinance, discussed a draft home‑occupation ordinance that would allow small businesses to operate from residences if they meet a 12‑point checklist, and directed staff to streamline the business license process (business license fee set at $75).
Bicknell, UT — The Bicknell Town Council voted on June 5 to amend Section 16 of the town’s building and zoning ordinance and spent the bulk of the meeting discussing a draft home‑occupation ordinance and associated business‑license process.
Planning commissioner Ellen summarized the planning commission’s work: the commission reworded a provision so a home business cannot block neighbor access, retained conditional‑use provisions for businesses that exceed home‑occupation criteria, and proposed a 12‑point checklist to determine whether a home business can be approved administratively or should go before the planning commission.
Councilmembers asked for clarifications on specific draft clauses, including the phrase that a home business “shall not employ persons other than bona fide residents of the residence except for employees employed totally outside the home.” Commissioners clarified that wording was intended to allow, for example, an owner who operates from home but uses employees who do field work and do not spend time working at the residence. The council asked staff to reword the clause for clarity.
Council members also directed staff to streamline the application so the town business license form would include a home‑occupation checkbox and the planning checklist can be used administratively. The council confirmed the town’s business license fee is $75 a year and discussed not adding a separate home‑occupation permit fee in order to reduce barriers for small operators.
Motion and vote: A motion was made and seconded to amend Section 16 of the building and zoning ordinance (the meeting record shows the motion carried after members responded “aye;” no roll‑call tally was recorded).
How this matters: The home‑occupation ordinance is intended to allow residents to run small businesses while preserving the residential character of neighborhoods; the council’s amendment to Section 16 and the direction to streamline licensing move the draft closer to adoption but council requested additional wording changes before final approval.
