Running a business from home in Butte County

Each rule below links to the section of the Butte County Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Butte County's code says

Butte County code What Butte County's code adds
Space used	No more than 25% of the home's gross floor area. Applies: Minor and major home businesses; may be in the home, an attached garage, or a detached garage or accessory structure. § 24-162 · code text Home occupations shall be located within the dwelling unit, attached garage, or detached garage or accessory structure, and shall not occupy more than twenty-five (25) percent of the gross floor area of the dwelling unit.
Customer visits	No client visits. Applies: Home offices. § 24-162 · code text No clients are permitted to visit a home office. No more than 6 clients per day. Applies: Minor home businesses; visits between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. § 24-162 · code text Not more than six (6) clients per day are permitted to visit a minor home occupation. No more than 12 clients per day. Applies: Major home businesses; visits between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. § 24-162 · code text Not more than twelve (12) clients per day are allowed to visit a major home occupation.
Employees	Only the people who live in the home. Applies: Home offices and minor home businesses. § 24-162 · code text Employees of a home office and a minor home occupation shall be limited to the persons residing in the dwelling unit. Up to 2 more people besides those who live in the home. Applies: Major home businesses. § 24-162 · code text Major home occupations are allowed two (2) additional persons in addition to those residing in the dwelling unit.
Permit	No home occupation permit. Allowed in all zones that allow homes. Applies: Home offices with no client visits or employees, and limited cottage food operations (no direct sales from home; Environmental Health approval needed). § 24-162 · code text The establishment of a Home Office use and a Cottage Food Operation, Limited use are permitted uses in all zones allowing residences. An approved Administrative Permit. Applies: Minor home businesses. § 24-162 · code text The establishment of a minor home occupation requires the approval of an Administrative Permit. An approved Minor Use Permit. Applies: Major home businesses. § 24-162 · code text The establishment of a major home occupation requires the approval of a Minor Use Permit. Approval by the county Environmental Health Division under the California Health and Safety Code. Applies: Cottage food operations. § 24-162 · code text Cottage Food Operations must be approved by the Butte County Environmental Health Division of the Butte County Public Health Department pursuant to the California Health and Safety Code.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Can I run a business from my home in Butte County?

County code: home businesses may use at most 25% of floor area; minor ones allow 6 clients a day, major ones 12.

Running a business from home in Butte County

Key points

What Butte County's code says

Who this affects

Frequently asked questions

Ask about a specific Butte County property

More on building on your lot in Butte County