This bill aims to amend the Code of West Virginia by introducing a new article dedicated to home-based businesses. It defines key terms such as "goods," "home-based business," and "no-impact home-based business," establishing criteria for what constitutes a no-impact home-based business, including limitations on the number of employees and clients, as well as restrictions on visibility and traffic impact. The bill permits the use of residential dwellings for home-based businesses while clarifying that this permission does not override existing deed restrictions or community regulations.

Additionally, the bill prohibits municipalities from requiring permits or prior approvals for no-impact home-based businesses and allows them to establish reasonable regulations to protect public health and safety, ensure compatibility with residential use, and prevent illegal activities. It also specifies that municipalities cannot impose conditions such as rezoning for commercial use or requiring fire sprinklers in certain residential properties. Finally, the bill establishes that any disputes regarding the compliance of regulations with this article will be subject to judicial review, placing the burden of proof on the municipality.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 8-40-1, 8-40-2, 8-40-3, 8-40-4, 8-40-5, 8-40-6