I take the position that if I am not working through a legal fiction but am performing services for hire (1099 activity) in my own name, than they cannot priviledge me with a licensing requirement. I wouldn't hire anybody but would maybe subcontract.

If I am working through a DBA then I would get a business license and try to operate out of a commercially zoned site. Now that might be a "virtual office" with a mail drop, in which case my address for records keeping is the residence, but I'm still not putting that on the license.

The city could make the argument that their municipal codes are contract stipulations that have jurisdiction through my residence within the limits of the incorporated area. I would then request a written copy of that unsigned contract and get my ink pen ready. ;)