QUSE : I noticed that one of the people who live in my neighborhood seems to operate a beauty salon from their home. I can see multiple hair salon equipment stations set up for use through a window. Is this allowed?

RESPONNSE: No, this is not the case.

The zoning rules, which designate the areas to use residential or commercial, for example, dictate what can be located in Longview, and companies are generally not allowed in residential neighborhoods. There are exceptions to the “home occupations” in certain situations.

However, beauty salons are specifically prohibited as home occupations, according to information that city planner Angela Choy provided to me.

She provided me with the following standards for “home occupations” taken from city rules:

a. No sign, advertisement or display may be used to indicate the presence of a residential occupation in the structure.

b. The address of the accommodation can appear in any ad or directory.

vs. Anyone employed must be a member of the occupant’s immediate family and reside on the premises where the home is occupied.

D. Unemployed at home may use equipment other than that designed for residential use or that would be detrimental or distract from using the premises as a residence.

e. Activities that may take place on the site include placing orders or picking up products for custom made and handcrafted products made on site and consumables sold through independent representatives of multi-level marketing companies.

F. No more than five (5) clients may be on site at a time. Customers are by invitation and / or by appointment only. Occupying the home will not increase the volume of traffic in the neighborhood.

g. No equipment should be used that creates offensive noises, vibrations, sounds, smoke, dust, odors, heat, glare, x-rays or electrical disturbances to radio or television instruments. .

h. Delivery of materials to and from the premises shall not involve the use of vibrations of a capacity greater than two (2) tons, with the exception of parcel post, United Parcel Service or similar delivery trucks.

I. A home occupation should not be interpreted to include hair salons, beauty salons, auto repairs, antique shops, plumbing stores or any similar sales, service or repair activity.

Complaints can be submitted to the city’s code compliance office by calling 903-237-2760.

Question: I would like you to walk past a house in my neighborhood and see how this commercial building was allowed between two residences.

A: I’ll be honest and tell you, it’s no different from other garages or stores I’ve seen in other people’s homes in town. (You provided me with the specific address so that I could drop by and look at it.)

Choy told me the owner, he “built a personal garage / storage building next to their house.” She said she had sent a complaint from someone about the building’s facade, but she said the city doesn’t have the facade requirements.

If, however, you suspect a business is operating illegally there, call the Code Compliance office at 903-237-2760.

– The answer line appears Thursday and Saturday. Email your questions to [email protected], leave a message at 903-232-7208, or write to PO Box 1792, Longview, TX 75606.