Placer County · Building on your lot

Running a business from home in Placer County

Home businesses on one site combined: no more than 3 patrons at a time and 15 per day, except occasional garage or yard sales.

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Key points

Home businesses: Home businesses on one site combined: no more than 3 patrons at a time and 15 per day, except occasional garage or yard sales.

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

What Placer County's code says

Placer County code What Placer County's code adds
Space used	No more than 5,000 square feet of growing area. Applies: Plant nursery home businesses. The growing area must not be easily seen from the street. § 17.56.120 · code text The growing area must not exceed 5,000 square feet.
Customer visits	No more than 3 patrons at the site at one time. Applies: All home businesses on one site combined. Occasional garage or yard sales are the exception. § 17.56.120 · code text No home occupation or combination of home occupations on a single site shall involve more than three patrons visiting the site at any one time and a maximum of 15 patrons per day except for occasional garage/yard sales. No more than 15 patrons per day. Applies: All home businesses on one site combined. Occasional garage or yard sales are the exception. § 17.56.120 · code text No home occupation or combination of home occupations on a single site shall involve more than three patrons visiting the site at any one time and a maximum of 15 patrons per day except for occasional garage/yard sales.
Employees	Up to 1 employee besides the people who live in the home. Applies: Home businesses run from a single-family detached home. § 17.56.120 · code text One employee other than the actual residents of the dwelling may be engaged in the home occupation when operated from a single-family detached home. Up to 2 employees besides the residents. Applies: Home businesses on at least 4.6 acres. § 17.56.120 · code text There shall be no other individuals employed at the residence or reporting on-site, unless the home occupation is located on at least 4.6 acres, in which case a maximum of two such employees may be permitted.
Permit	A zoning clearance or other land use permit approving a home occupation business license is required. § 17.56.120 · code text A zoning clearance or other land use permit granting approval of a home occupation business license shall be approved only if the proposed home occupation satisfies each of the following criteria:
Businesses not allowed	commercial retail sales, except as allowed pursuant to subsection (C)(8); auto repair or painting; any outdoor business activity not otherwise consistent with this chapter § 17.56.120 · code text For guidance, the following and similar uses are not allowed as home occupations: commercial retail sales (except as allowed pursuant to subsection (C)(8)); auto repair or painting; any outdoor business activity not otherwise consistent with this chapter.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

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

Home businesses on one site combined: no more than 3 patrons at a time and 15 per day, except occasional garage or yard sales.

General information, not legal advice.

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