Mr. and Mrs. Brouse, you seem to be past this point, but I am posting this for the other site members following your case who would like to avoid the types of headaches you have experienced.
After a lifetime of run-ins with local authorities over my reptile collection in various places I have lived, this is how I have modified my practices to avoid problems you have been going through.
I use a PO Box as my business address instead of my residential address always. I also never have my physical address on any advertising I do and I also do not list my business in the local yellow pages directory. I also have only a cell phone # and not a land line. My cell company only has my PO box as an address, and not my physical address. My PO box is in different neighboring municipality than the one I reside in. This is because many municipalities require local businesses to be licensed and inspected and to pay personal property taxes. They often inspect the personal property themselves and appraise it to arrive at a value. Your animals, cages, and equipment are all “personal property” that can be taxed at their market value. These municipal agencies usually have no authority to enforce their ordinances across municipal boundaries. The purpose of this is not to avoid taxes, but to AVOID INSPECTIONS, which can escalate into disasterous situations, such as your municipal personal property tax agent talking about your business to the health department down the hall. This often results in a visit by them to makes sure you are not an animal hoarder endangering public health, or some dangerous sick freak growing deadly snakes to sell to terrorists, or violating any building or zoning codes. If any of these people talk to the mayor or city council, they may decide to change the laws to limit the types and numbers of animals people can own. You could be forced to get rid of your animals or move at some point. This is exactly what happened to Terry Cullen in Milwaukee. He has had his collection of crocs and anacondas in his home and several business propertys since 1970 and there never was any problem, since it wasn’t illegal to keep large reptiles, until local animal control was taken over by PETA who got the laws changed to make all of his animals illegal and eligible for seizure. This can get ugly!
I have a state sellers permit to collect and remit sales tax with only my PO box. I do not have my business registered with the city because I don’t have to, since my business address is a PO box in a neighboring city that I have no physical presence in. Under no circumstances do I conduct anything that appears to be a business activity from my house. When I have to reveal a physical address, such as to get a PO box, I use the address of a rural vacation property that I own, but where no animals are kept. This is also the address on my drivers license and car registration. No customers ever come to my house. No mail with my business name is ever addressed to my house. No delivery trucks. I ship from the local fed-ex office and have any deliverys held for pick up at the fed ex office. All of my animals and animal-related equipment are sequestered in locked rooms with no appliances or meters that ever require entry by servicemen. I never leave anything in the living areas that would raise questions by visitors-Reptiles Magazine is NEVER left lying around the living room.
I no longer ever show my collection to anyone and never allow any of my neighbors on my property and never discuss my activities with them or anyone else with no need to know. I know all of this may sound like extreme measures, but in the state I reside in, it is really necessary to protect oneself. This is how persecution and paranoia shapes behavior. As a result of the way things are in my state, I have recently found it necessary to begin using aliases to protect myself.
I am not an attorney and cant give legal advice but this is how I do it and never had any problems by employing these practices. It keeps me under the radar and keeps everyone out of my face.
I hope you find this information useful. Good Luck
I sincerely hope things work in your favor. It sure sounds like they're going to. 
