§ 14-1-106 — Home-based businesses - Legislative findings and intent - Definitions

Arkansas § 14-1-106

• Jurisdiction: Arkansas
• Title: 14

Text

(a) The General Assembly finds that: (1) Small businesses often begin at home because of lower costs and increased flexibility; (2) Home-based work plays a significant role in the economy as roughly half of all businesses in the United States operate primarily out of a residence; and (3) Local government can hold back entrepreneurs and limit the economy of this state by enacting ordinances that require an individual to obtain a permit to operate a business in or work from the individual's own residence. (b) It is the intent of the General Assembly that this section strengthen home-based work and remove unnecessary barriers to working from home. (c) As used in this section: (1) "Home-based work" means any occupation performed or business conducted by a resident within a residence that is clearly incidental to and secondary to the principal use of the structure for residential dwelling purposes; (2) "Legislative body" means the quorum court of a county or the council, board of directors, board of commissioners, or similar elected governing body of local government; (3) "Local government" means a city of the first class, a city of the second class, or an incorporated town; (4) "Ordinance" means an ordinance, resolution, or other appropriate legislative enactment of a legislative body that prohibits or requires an individual to obtain approval from a local government before operating a home-based business from a residence or performing home-based work, including without limitation home occupation permits and licenses; and (5) "Residence" means a permanent dwelling place, unit, or an accessory structure. (d) Notwithstanding any other law, local government may license or regulate home-based work if the home-based work is not prohibited and shall only be restricted as to the following: (1) Advertisements, signs, or other exterior evidence that a residence is being used for any purpose other than a residence; (2) Nuisances, including without limitation odor, excessive dust, smoke, vibration, noise, light, heat, glare, or similar disturbances; (3) Health, fire, and safety codes; (4) Traffic, parking, building, and maintenance codes; (5) Protections for children, the elderly, and the infirm; (6) Limitations on the number of employees, customers, and tenants at the residence; (7) Prohibitions or limitations related to public health, safety, and welfare; and (8) Licenses and regulations that apply to businesses without regard to location. (e) This section does not supersede: (1) An agreement between a homeowners' association and a homeowner; or (2) Any valid deed restrictions. (f) If a local government takes enforcement action against an individual for violating an ordinance, then the local government shall demonstrate that the ordinance is consistent with subsection (d) of this section.

Legislative History

Added by Act 2021, No. 659,§ 1, eff. 7/28/2021.