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White House council approves home‑business update, new permit fee schedule and alcohol permitting changes
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Summary
Councilors voted to adopt Ordinance 26‑0428‑02 aligning home‑based business rules with state law, Ordinance 26‑0428‑04 updating permit fees, and Ordinance 26‑0428‑03 updating alcohol permitting to remove local permit fees while retaining a certification fee.
At its April 28 meeting the White House City Council approved three ordinances that update land‑use rules, local permit fees and the city's alcohol permitting process.
Home‑based businesses: Planner Jake Hooter explained that recent state law changes (including House Bill 2464) limit how municipalities may regulate home‑based businesses. The proposed amendment to section 21.7 clarifies the definition of "no‑impact" home‑based businesses and retains the city's ability to address nuisance effects such as traffic, noise and safety concerns for activities that exceed no‑impact thresholds. No members of the public spoke during the hearing and the council voted to adopt Ordinance 26‑0428‑02.
Permit fee schedule: Staff presented a consolidated and updated permit fee schedule covering zoning amendments, plan review, building and miscellaneous permits. Staff recommended differentiating variance fees (new development vs. existing structure), retaining a $50 residential burn permit for a 10‑day window, and defining a $0 special event permit distinct from a $100 outdoor vendor permit. After questions about regional comparables and enforcement, council adopted Ordinance 26‑0428‑04.
Alcohol permitting: Stephanie Nichols summarized changes required by state law: cities can no longer charge a local permit fee when an establishment has already paid fees to state, county or public health entities. Staff recommended eliminating the redundant local permit fee while retaining a certification fee the city may charge for administrative work; the council approved Ordinance 26‑0428‑03.
Votes at a glance: - Ordinance 26‑0428‑02 (home‑based businesses): motion to approve made (transcript), seconded, voice vote recorded as "aye"; outcome: approved. - Ordinance 26‑0428‑04 (permit fee schedule): motion to approve (councilmember), second recorded; outcome: approved. - Ordinance 26‑0428‑03 (alcohol permitting): motion to approve by Councilmember Matt Lazarine, seconded by Mayor James Wansley; outcome: approved.
Council and staff said the changes are intended to bring the city's codes into alignment with state law and to make permit fees more transparent for residents and developers.
