A Home Occupation is a business or enterprise conducted in a dwelling or accessory dwelling and incidental to the principle residential use whether conducted for profit or not for profit. The City of Stillwater regulates Home Occupations to ensure the character of our residential neighborhoods are maintained.

Home Occupations are not allowed in every residential area and there are three different types of Home Occupation permits.

Municipal Code Regulations Regarding Home Occupations website is:

https://library.municode.com/mn/stillwater/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CH31ZOOR_ARTVPEST_DIV1REST_S31-500HOOC

Click here for  a Type I Home Occupation Permit.  Type II and Type III required a Special Use Permit issued by the City of Stillwater Planning Commission.

For further information regarding Home Occupations, please contact the Community Development Department at (651) 430-8820.

Planning applications can be submitted via mail or emailed to the Planning Department. To pay the application fee, you can submit a check payable to the City of Stillwater or pay via credit card over the phone, 651-430-8820.

Planning Department
216 4th St N
Stillwater MN 55082

 SPECIAL USE PERMITS

The purpose of a Special or Conditional Use Permit is to allow the integration of essential or desirable uses which may be suitable only in certain zoning districts or designed or arranged on a site in a certain manner. All uses set forth in the zoning regulations are subject to use permit review and are declared to be of such unique and special character that it is impractical to include them as principal permitted uses or as accessory uses in any district.

Prior to the issuance of a Special or Conditional Use Permit, the Planning Commission will hold a public hearing. In some circumstances, the Planning Commission is an advisory board to the City Council. In this circumstances, the Planning Commission will make a recommendation to the City Council. The City Council, too, will hold a public hearing before acting on the permit application.

In approving a Special or Condition Use Permit, it must be determined that:

1. The proposed structure or use conforms to the requirements and the intent of the zoning regulations, and of the comprehensive plan, relevant area plans and other lawful regulations
2. Any additional conditions necessary for the public interest have been imposed
3. The use or structure will not constitute a nuisance or be detrimental to the public welfare of the community.

Applications must be accompanied by sufficient supporting documentation. An application checklist has been provided. Not all supporting documents may be required for every application. Please contact the Planning Department to discuss your application and for determination of which checklist items will be required.