Tigard staff propose three-tier rules for home-based businesses in Tiger neighborhoods

Amber Gomez, the city's associate planner, presented staff's recommended approach for the Tiger Home project at the study session and told the council she will present a formal update at the July 7 business meeting.

Gomez described a three-tier business-classification system intended to align regulatory review with likely neighborhood impacts. "Home occupations" would be allowed by right and intended for largely invisible uses—examples include bookkeeping or online sales, with no employees or customers on site. "Home businesses" would permit limited customer or employee visits and would require a type‑1 review; staff cited in‑person tutoring, therapy and barbers as examples. "Neighborhood‑scale commercial" would allow businesses open to the public (corner markets, small restaurants), require a type‑2 review and neighborhood notice, and be restricted to main roads in Tiger neighborhoods.

Gomez said standards would vary by tier—limits on customers and operating hours for home businesses, more comprehensive building and site design standards for neighborhood-scale commercial, and more restrictive sign standards where needed. She also told councilors the city does not intend to rezone: "The approach that we're leaning towards right now is not to do a rezoning. It's more of allowing new uses in the existing zones. And putting standards with those uses." Staff said they will produce a GIS map to clarify where the new rules would apply.

Councilors pressed for specifics on how the tiers would be distinguished in practice. Councilor Shaw asked whether a home gym would fall into the home business category and sought clarity on the metric used to distinguish categories. Gomez answered that limits (for example, number of people at one time or per day) would be required and could be set by appointment and that staff are still refining unit metrics.

Several council members asked that the distinction between a home business and neighborhood commercial be clear to residents—for example, why three patrons at a time is treated differently from five. Gomez said staff will return with recommended numerical limits and that some existing uses would become "nonconforming" if they do not meet the new standards but would remain in operation.

Gomez framed the proposals as early recommendations that could change after the final phase of public engagement: "It's possible that some of these could potentially change when we get to our very final recommendations for the Tiger Home project. But this is what we want to present to you all so far." Councilors asked for a plain‑language map and clearer reasoning behind thresholds ahead of the July presentation.

Next steps: staff will prepare materials for the July 7 business meeting, circulate a GIS map showing where each tier would apply, and return with proposed numeric limits and fee impacts for council review.