Chapter 17.64 — HOME OCCUPATIONS

Home occupations shall be permitted only in accordance with the regulations in Chapter 17.108 and this chapter.

(Ord. 92-73; Ord. 22-431 § 1)

The purpose and intent of this chapter is to allow someone residing in a residential district the ability to take part in a home occupation as long as it is harmonious with and does not change the character and quality of the environment of the residential neighborhood area. The intent of a home occupation is to be incidental and an accessory use to the residential land use district through the conditions set forth in this chapter.

(Ord. 26-479, 3/9/2026)

• A. Before approving an application for a home occupation in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 17.108 and this section, the planning director shall determine that the proposed home occupation will comply with the following standards:

  1. A home occupation within a dwelling unit shall be clearly incidental to the use of the structure as a dwelling.

  2. A home occupation shall not be conducted in any accessory structure, other than a garage, and there shall be no storage of equipment or supplies in any accessory structure, other than a garage, or outside the dwelling.

  3. Only residents of the dwelling may be engaged in work activities at the residence. Employees may not come to the residence for work purposes, including pick-up of materials, vehicles, assignments, or similar purposes.

4. Sales of goods on the premises shall be limited to the products of the home occupation, and no merchandise or goods shall be sold, kept or displayed for the purposes of sale on the premises.

5. Merchandise not produced on the premises may be kept and stored for purposes of sale at locations off the premises; provided, that such merchandise is limited to small articles, such as jewelry, cosmetics and similar items of merchandise which can be carried by one person in a case or other container. For purposes of this standard, materials typically involved in providing contracting services, such as plumbing, heating, air conditioning, electrical, carpentry and landscaping are not included within the meaning of the clause "small articles."

6. A home occupation may involve the performance of business and professional services in which goods, wares and merchandise are not commercially created, sold or exchanged, but shall not include beauty salons, barber shops, medical offices, tattoo parlors, fortune tellers, palm readers or similar services, unless otherwise permitted to operate a mobile unit authorized by the CA Department of Consumer Affairs, Board of Barbering and Cosmetology.

7. A home occupation shall not involve the performance of any repair services on the premises other than the repair of small appliances and equipment or other small objects which normally are capable of being carried by one person without the aid of mechanical equipment or devices.

8. A home occupation shall not involve the use of any material or mechanical equipment not recognized as being part of normal household or hobby uses.

9. No motor power other than electrically-operated motors shall be used in connection with a home occupation.

10. A home occupation shall not create any radio or television interference or noise audible beyond the walls of the dwelling.

11. There shall be no external alteration of the appearance of a dwelling in which a home occupation is conducted.

12. The existence of a home occupation shall not be apparent beyond the boundaries of the site except for one nonilluminated name plate affixed to the dwelling not exceeding two square feet in area (for example, a name plate having dimensions of one foot by two feet).

13. Generally, business visitors and customers of the home occupation are prohibited from visiting the residence. However, this provision does not apply to home occupation of an educational nature, including, but not limited to: tutoring, music instruction, swimming lessons, and art. Such uses are limited to not more than two students at one time and generate no more than four round-trip vehicle trips per day.

14. Not more than one vehicle specifically designated to be used for a home occupation shall be parked at the subject residence at any time. The vehicle is limited to a passenger car, pickup truck, van or sport utility vehicle. Vehicles shall conform to the provisions of Title 10 of the LMC.

15. The home occupation(s) shall not generate vehicular traffic, pedestrian traffic, or parking needs not normally associated with a single-family residential use.

16. A home occupation shall not be permitted until an application for a permit shall be made in the manner prescribed under Chapter 17.108 .

17. The planning director may also place other conditions deemed necessary to make the home occupation compatible with the neighborhood.

18. A cottage food operation as defined in Section 113758 of the Health and Safety Code shall be a permitted home occupation provided it complies with all applicable provisions of this section and the Health and Safety Code, as it may be amended. A cottage food operation is an enterprise at a private home where low-risk foods are prepared or packaged for public consumption. Any applicant for a home occupation permit under this subsection shall demonstrate he or she operates a qualifying cottage food operation. Standards in subsections (A)(3), (A)(4), and (A)(13) above shall not apply to a cottage food operation.

19. The home occupation shall not generate noise, odor, dust, vibrations, fumes, smoke, glare, electrical or electronic interference with the residential use of neighboring properties.

• B. Upon approval of a permit for a home occupation, the planning department shall attach the above standards to the notice of approval as conditions which must be met by the applicant, together with such other additional conditions as may be prescribed under Chapter 17.108 .

• (Ord. 92-73; Ord. 13-329 § 1; Ord. 16-355 § 1; Ord. 22-431 § 1)

A permit for a home occupation may be modified in the same manner as originally applied for by the applicant. A permit for a home occupation may be revoked as prescribed under Section 17.108.060 . (Ord. 92-73; Ord. 13-329 § 1)