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Lakeway looking to change home business law, separate home day care law expected later

By FOX 7 Austin Digital Team
Published  June 22, 2022 10:08am CDT
Lakeway
FOX 7 Austin

Lakeway City Council considers proposal to amend one of its home business ordinances

This comes after golfers complained and a daycare owner was forced to temporarily close her at-home business. That resident filed a lawsuit saying changes need to be made to save her home business.

LAKEWAY, Texas - The City of Lakeway is working to change its home business ordinance to make it easier for entrepreneurs to launch home-based businesses. 

The possible change comes following a lawsuit that was filed by the Institute for Justice and Lakeway home day care provider Bianca King in February, which argued that the city's restrictions on home businesses violated the Texas Constitution.

King said she was denied an additional license for her business after a group of golfers playing on a nearby course complained the kids were making too much noise. She filed a lawsuit to get the city to change its ordinances, so businesses like hers could run smoothly.

Institute for Justice Senior Attorney Erica Smith Ewing says in a news release that the "law change is a big step in the right direction and will make it easier for aspiring business owners in Lakeway to earn an honest living from their own homes."

Home daycare business owner filing lawsuit against Lakeway after being denied a permit

Bianca King runs a daycare business out of her home and the City of Lakeway continues to deny her a permit to continue running it. She is now filing a lawsuit.

The new ordinance would repeal the most restrictive provisions from the previous home business ordinance, including requirements that businesses be "undetectable" and not have "customers" commuting to the business. Overall, the number of provisions a home business must comply with was nearly cut in half from 19 to 10.

However, the city’s new law would not apply to home day care providers, like King. City officials plan to work on a separate ordinance specifically focused on home day cares.

"I’m hopeful that the city’s home day care law will be similar to its new home business law, and that I’ll be able to continue providing quality, affordable child care to families in Lakeway," King said.