Ontario · Building on your lot
Building on your lot in Ontario
Ontario's rules on running a business from home limit space, visitors and workers, and list businesses that are not allowed. Only the dwelling's occupants may work in the business, and a valid city business license is required.
Key points
- Space and visitors: Ontario limits a home business to 1 room and 10 percent of the dwelling's floor area, and 1 client or customer at a time.
- Banned businesses: Not allowed: barber and beauty shops, medical and dental offices, vehicle repair, gun or ammunition sales, welding and carpentry.
Each rule below is marked Ontario code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Running a business from home
Ontario code Ontario limits a home business to 1 room and 10 percent of the dwelling's floor area, and 1 client or customer at a time. Not allowed: barber and beauty shops, medical and dental offices, vehicle repair, gun or ammunition sales, welding and carpentry.
All 8 Ontario rules on running a business from home, with the code text →
RV and boat parking
Ontario code Oversized: over 25 feet long, 8.5 feet wide or 7 feet high; trailers, boats and RVs count at any size. No more than 48 hours.
All 4 Ontario rules on RV and boat parking, with the code text →
Solar panels and EV chargers
Ontario code Expedited, nondiscretionary review; a building permit is issued quickly when the application meets the checklist. Expedited, nondiscretionary review; only one inspection is required.
All 3 Ontario rules on solar panels and EV chargers, with the code text →
Building in a flood zone
Ontario code A development permit is needed before development in flood hazard, flood-erosion or mudslide areas. No fill, new construction or other encroachment unless a registered professional engineer or architect certifies no flood level increase.
All 3 Ontario rules on building in a flood zone, with the code text →
Noise and construction hours
Ontario code 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
All 8 Ontario rules on noise and construction hours, with the code text →
Garage and yard sales
| Hours |
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|---|---|
| Sales per year |
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| Signs |
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Family child care homes
| Zoning | A small or large family child care home is a residential use and a use by right under all local ordinances, including zoning |
|---|---|
| Business license or fee | A city or county may not charge a business license, fee or tax to run a family child care home |
| Local rules | Local limits on height, setbacks, lot size, health and safety must be the same as for every other home in the same zone |
| Small home | Up to eight children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there |
| Large home | 7 to 14 children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there |
Parking spaces required for homes
Ontario code Parking is prohibited on any lawn, landscaped area, or other unpaved surface in a front or street side yard. Vehicle access over a lawn, landscaped or unpaved front or street side yard to parking or storage is prohibited.
All 4 Ontario rules on parking spaces required for homes, with the code text →
Home alarm permits and false alarms
Ontario code An alarm may sound for at most 15 consecutive minutes. The amount is set by resolution of the City Council.
All 5 Ontario rules on home alarm permits and false alarms, with the code text →
Trash and recycling carts
| When carts must come back |
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|---|---|
| When carts may go to the curb |
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Other Ontario rules on this
Ontario's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
- Keeping pot-bellied pigs as pets (§ 6-1.230)
- Urban lot splits (SB 9) (§ 6.08.060) — two-unit projects are in a separate section
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
What are the garage sale rules in Ontario?
Ontario's code: No more than 4 weekends (Friday to Sunday) per calendar year. (Citywide; the Council may set the weekends by resolution.) (§ 5-15.03); 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (§ 5-15.03).
Can I run a family child care home in Ontario?
California law sets this for every city, including Ontario: Zoning: A small or large family child care home is a residential use and a use by right under all local ordinances, including zoning (Health & Safety Code § 1597.45(a)); Business license or fee: A city or county may not charge a business license, fee or tax to run a family child care home (Health & Safety Code § 1597.45(b)); Local rules: Local limits on height, setbacks, lot size, health and safety must be the same as for every other home in the same zone (Health & Safety Code § 1597.45(e)); Small home: Up to eight children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there (Health & Safety Code § 1596.78(c)); Large home: 7 to 14 children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there (Health & Safety Code § 1596.78(b)).
When can trash carts go out to the curb in Ontario?
Ontario's code: Remove carts no later than the evening after collection day. (§ 6-3.308); Not before the evening before collection day (Residential non-organic waste, recycling and green waste carts) (§ 6-3.308).
General information, not legal advice.
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