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Imperial County · Building on your lot

Running a business from home in Imperial County

Imperial County home businesses are single-person uses by the occupant, need a planning director permit, and may not be barber shops or car repair.

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Key points

  • Home businesses: Imperial County home businesses are single-person uses by the occupant, need a planning director permit, and may not be barber shops or car repair.

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

What Imperial County's code says

Imperial County code What Imperial County's code adds
Employees
  • No employees. Only the person who lives in the home may run the business.
    § 90404.01 · code text
    Home occupations are single person (home occupant and not employee) uses that may include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following:
Permit
  • A home occupation permit approved by the planning director is required.
    § 90404.04 · code text
    No home occupation shall be recognized or established until an application for a home occupation permit has been submitted and approved by the planning director.
Businesses not allowed
  • Antique shop (repair or sales); appliance repair; barber or beauty shop; cabinet making or woodworking; car repair or small engine repair; funeral chapel or funeral home; gift shop; medical or dental clinic, hospital; renting of trailers, autos, trucks or motorcycles; restaurant; stable or kennel; veterinary clinic or hospital
    § 90404.02 · code text
    Permitted home occupations do not and shall not be deemed to include any of the following or similar uses:
  • cannabis manufacturing, including as a cottage food operation or in-home retail sales
    § 90404.02 · code text
    No cannabis manufacturing shall be allowed as a Home Occupation including, but not limited to, Cottage Food Operation and In-home Retail Sales.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

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

Imperial County home businesses are single-person uses by the occupant, need a planning director permit, and may not be barber shops or car repair.

General information, not legal advice.

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Imperial County Municipal Code — full text