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Running a business from home in Huntington Beach

Huntington Beach home businesses must stay in 1 room, with no nonresident employees, no office open to visitors, and a business license.

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Key points

  • Home businesses: Huntington Beach home businesses must stay in 1 room, with no nonresident employees, no office open to visitors, and a business license.

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

What Huntington Beach's code says

Huntington Beach code What Huntington Beach's code adds
Space used
  • Only 1 room of the home.
    Applies: Swimming lessons are the exception.
    § 230.12 · code text
    A home occupation shall be conducted entirely within one room in a dwelling, with the exception of swimming lessons.
Customer visits
  • No more than 4 students per class.
    Applies: Swimming lessons in an outdoor pool.
    § 230.12 · code text
    Where a home occupation involves swimming instruction in an outdoor swimming pool, each swimming class shall be limited to four students, and no more than two vehicles shall be used to transport students to such classes.
Employees
  • Only residents of the home may work on site or report to work there.
    Applies: This also applies to independent contractors.
    § 230.12 · code text
    No one other than a resident of the dwelling shall be employed on-site or report to work at the site in the conduct of a home occupation. This prohibition also applies to independent contractors.
Permit
  • A business license is required.
    § 230.12 · code text
    A home occupation in an R district shall require a business license.
  • An administrative permit with neighborhood notice is required.
    Applies: Home businesses that give instruction or services, such as music lessons, beauty services or swimming lessons.
    § 230.12 · code text
    If the home occupation involves instruction and/or service, e.g., music lessons, beauty shop, swimming lessons or other similar uses as determined by the Director, then an administrative permit is required subject to Neighborhood Notification in compliance with Chapter 241.
Businesses not allowed
  • motor vehicle repair for commercial purposes
    § 230.12 · code text
    No motor vehicle repair for commercial purposes shall be permitted.
  • office or salesroom open to visitors
    § 230.12 · code text
    A home occupation shall not include an office or salesroom open to visitors, and there shall be no advertising of the address of the home occupation.
  • renting out the premises for commercial purposes, including parties and commercial filming activities
    § 230.12 · code text
    No renting out the premises for commercial purposes, e.g. parties, commercial filming activities, or other similar activities shall be permitted.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Can I run a business from my home in Huntington Beach?

Huntington Beach home businesses must stay in 1 room, with no nonresident employees, no office open to visitors, and a business license.

General information, not legal advice.

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Huntington Beach Municipal Code — full text