5.2.100 Safety inspection certificate

1. Every business in a building or office in the jurisdictional limits of the City of Great Falls shall be required to obtain a Safety Inspection Certificate to ensure that the building, store or office complies with uniform safety codes and other ordinances and regulations enacted for the purpose of protecting the health, safety, and welfare of the public. (Ord. 2745, 1998, Ord. 2672, 1995)
2. A Safety Inspection Certificate fee is authorized.
3. In any multiple business, suite/office structure:
   1. Each portion or subdivision under separate control and requiring its own inspections shall have its own Safety Inspection Certificate.
   2. The building owner/agent shall obtain a certificate for indoor common areas if the aggregate total of the common area is greater than 1000 square feet.
4. For multi-family dwelling units of four (4) or more units, only the indoor common areas shall require a certificate. (Ord. 2764, 2000; Ord. 2745, 1998, Ord. 2672, 1995)

5.2.200 Home occupation certificate

The establishment of a Home Occupation shall require a certificate issued by the City of Great Falls. (Ord. 2674, 1995; Ord. 2483 §1, 1987; Ord 2344 (part), 1983).

5.2.210 Issuance - revocation of certificate

1. ¹New Issuances. Applications for Home Occupation certificates shall include:
   1. A site plan indicating what portion of the dwelling will be used for the business. (Ord. 2745, 1998, Ord. 2672, 1995)
   2. A complete description of the type of business to be conducted.
   3. Documented approval of all adjacent property owners inclusive of those separated by right-of-ways. If any two adjacent property owners, whose approval is required, do not approve the certificate, the certificate shall not be granted.
      1. The Home Occupation certificate holder may appeal the denial or revocation of a Home Occupation certificate as described in 5.02.210(B)(1).
2. Renewals. Review and/or revocation of the Home Occupation certificate shall occur:
   1. Upon receipt of a written request for revocation from any two property owners whose approval is required in 5.02.210(A)(3) a hearing shall be held by the Board of Adjustment. The finding of the Board of Adjustment shall be presented to the City Commission and, unless a majority of the City Commissioners disagree, shall become binding sixty (60) days after presentation to the City Commission.
   2. Upon verification of any violation of this chapter, the City shall review the certificate in question. Upon the finding that the Home Occupation is no longer compatible with the neighborhood, and verifying that a violation exists, the said Home Occupation certificate shall be revoked. (Ord. 2745, 1998, Ord. 2674, 1995)

¹Existing home occupations, licensed by either the State of Montana, United States Government or the City of Great Falls, shall not be required to fulfill the requirements for the neighborhood pre-approval as outlined in 5.2.210(A)(3).

5.2.220 Home occupation requirements

Home Occupations may be permitted wherein the use meets the following requirements and the applicant provides proof of such:

1. Appearance. The activity must be conducted in a manner so as not to give an outward appearance nor manifest any characteristics of a business in the ordinary meaning of the terms, nor shall it create undue amounts of traffic which would infringe upon the right of neighboring residents to enjoy the peaceful occupancy of their home.
2. Employees. That portion of the Home Occupation conducted at the dwelling unit must be carried on by at least one resident of the dwelling unit. In addition, non-resident employees where the aggregate hours worked do not exceed forty hours per week and when no more than two employees are present at one time are permitted
3. Location. For Home Occupations whose services are rendered at the customer's location, the use of the dwelling unit shall be limited to the office portion of the business.
4. Secondary use. The Home Occupation must be incidental and secondary to the use of the dwelling unit as a residence.
5. Area. A maximum of thirty percent (30%) of the dwelling may be dedicated to the Home Occupation.
6. Exterior Use. No exterior storage of material or equipment or any variation from the residential character of the principle building shall be permitted.
7. Noise, etc. No offensive noise, vibration, smoke, dust, odor, heat or glare shall be produced.
8. Delivery. No material or commodities shall be delivered to or from the residence which are of such bulk or quantity as to create undesirable traffic or congestion.
9. Weight. No materials or commodities shall be placed within the building which exceeds the allowable floor loading of forty pounds per square foot.
10. Parking. No parking of customers’ vehicles shall be permitted in a manner of frequency so as to cause a disturbance or inconvenience to neighboring residents or so as to necessitate off-street parking. Business vehicles shall not exceed one ton rated capacity.
11. Sign. No exterior display shall be permitted except that one non-illuminated nameplate or Home Occupation sign shall be permitted; however, the sign shall not exceed one hundred forty-four square inches (one square foot) in area and further; shall not exceed twenty-four inches in length. Such sign or nameplate shall be placed flat against the dwelling unit.
12. Garage. The Home Occupation cannot be conducted upon the area, including garage space, provided to fulfill the off-street parking requirements for the dwelling unit on the lot. (Ord. 2674, 1995)