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Orange County · Building on your lot

Running a business from home in Orange County

A home occupation must stay within the dwelling's enclosed living area, with at most 1 client at any given time.

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Key points

  • Home occupations: A home occupation must stay within the dwelling's enclosed living area, with at most 1 client at any given time.

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

What Orange County's code says

Orange County code What Orange County's code adds
Space used
  • Only inside the enclosed living area of the home.
    § 7-9-104 · code text
    A home occupation shall be conducted only within the enclosed living area of the dwelling unit.
Customer visits
  • No more than 1 client on site.
    Applies: At any given time.
    § 7-9-104 · code text
    A home occupation shall not have more than one (1) client on the premises at any given time.
Permit
  • Allowed as an accessory use to a home under set standards; no separate permit is named.
    Applies: In districts that list home businesses as a permitted use.
    § 7-9-104 · code text
    Home occupations are permitted when conducted as an accessory use to a residential use in any district that specifies home occupations as a permitted use, subject to the requirements of subsection (c) of this section.
Businesses not allowed
  • selling prepared foods on-site
    Applies: cottage food operation
    § 7-9-104 · code text
    A cottage food operation shall comply with all applicable State regulations and shall not sell any prepared foods on-site.
  • distribution, transporting, manufacturing, cultivating or delivery of cannabis or cannabis products from the home
    § 7-9-104 · code text
    Distribution, transporting, manufacturing, cultivating or delivery of cannabis or cannabis products from the home is not permitted as a home occupation.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

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

A home occupation must stay within the dwelling's enclosed living area, with at most 1 client at any given time.

General information, not legal advice.

Ask about a specific Orange County property

Ask GoCodebook how Orange County's running a business from home rules apply to your situation and get an answer that cites the section.

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Orange County Municipal Code — full text