Artist-Friendly Zoning

In November 2004, the city updated its Zoning Ordinance to include zoning categories friendly to artists' uses.  When reviewing the AUT, look for zoning districts that allow the following art activities and uses:

• Artist Live/Work Space: Defined as “a dwelling unit in which up to 50% of the floor area is used for the production, showing and sale of art." This space is for both visual and performing arts. Note: If you think you need more than 50% of your space for work, you can apply for a Zoning Variation to increase the floor space designated for art/business use by an additional 10%.  How to obtain a zoning variation is explained in detail in the section Zoning Variations.

• Artisan Manufacturing: Defined as “on-site production of goods by hand manufacturing, involving the use of hand tools and small-scale, light mechanical equipment." Typical uses include woodworking and cabinet shops, ceramic studios, jewelry manufacturing and similar types of arts and crafts or very small-scale manufacturing uses that "have no negative external impacts on surrounding properties.”  Welding is also a permitted activity in this category, which allows visual arts studios in these locations, but not performing art rehearsal spaces.

• Artist Work or Sales Space: Defined as “floor space devoted to the production, showing or sale of art." Typical uses include art galleries and artist studios, but do not include art museums, which are classified in the "Cultural Exhibits and Libraries" use category. Artist Work or Sales Spaces allow you to utilize a space for work-only (visual studio, performing rehearsal), sale-only (gallery, store, theater, etc.), or a combination of work and sale space.  These spaces are located in Business and Commercial Districts only.

• Cultural Exhibits and Libraries: Defined as, “museum-like preservation and exhibition of objects in one or more of the arts and sciences, gallery exhibition of works of art, or library collection of books, manuscripts, etc., for study and reading.” These spaces are located primarily in Business and Commercial Districts, as well as selected Residential Districts with special use approval. Spaces zoned for this use do not allow for-profit galleries, which are specifically for commercial purposes.

• Business Support Services: Defined as, “provision of clerical, employment, protective, or minor processing services to firms rather than individuals. Storage of goods other than samples is prohibited. Typical uses include secretarial services, telephone answering services and blueprint services.” Although this may seem unrelated to art activities, this category permits business or trade schools that do not involve any outdoor storage or manufacturing processes.