Running a business from home in Rancho Cordova

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

What Rancho Cordova's code says

Rancho Cordova code What Rancho Cordova's code adds
Customer visits	No more than 1 business visitor an hour and 8 a day. Applies: Only from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., no matter how many businesses operate from the home. § 23.901.030 · code text Visitors and customers shall not exceed those normally and reasonably occurring for a residence, including not more than one business visitor an hour and eight a day, during the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (regardless of how many businesses operate out of the home). Only 1 client on site at a time, by appointment only. Applies: Certified massage practitioners. § 23.901.030 · code text Only one client is on site at a time and by appointment only.
Employees	No more than 1 full-time employee. Applies: Cottage food operations. Family or household members do not count. § 23.901.030 · code text Cottage food operations, as defined by and consistent with the requirements of the California Health and Safety Code, are limited to one full-time employee, not including a family member or household member of the cottage food operation. Off-site employees or partners are allowed if they do not report to work at the home. § 23.901.030 · code text Off-site employees or partners are permitted as part of the home occupation so long as they do not report for work at the subject property.
Permit	Zoning certification approval and a city business license are required. § 23.901.030 · code text A home occupation shall not be conducted prior to approval of zoning certification (see Chapter 23.113 RCMC, Zoning Certification). Zoning certification, CAMTC certification and a business license are required. Applies: Home massage therapists. § 4.33.040 · code text Any home occupation massage therapist must be CAMTC certified pursuant to RCMC § 4.33.025 and must obtain a business license pursuant to RCMC § 4.33.035 and this section.
Businesses not allowed	Alcohol beverage manufacturing or sales business; ambulance service; ammunition reloading, including custom reloading; boarding house, bed-and-breakfast hotel, timeshare condominium; carpentry, cabinet makers; ceramics with a kiln of six cubic feet or more; firearms sales; health salons, gyms, dance studios, aerobic exercise studios; medical, dental, chiropractic, or veterinary clinics; mortician, hearse service; noncertified massage practitioners; palm reading, fortunetelling; private clubs; repair or reconditioning of boats or recreation vehicles; restaurants or taverns; retail sales from site, except direct distribution of artist's originals and as provided by the California Health and Safety Code for cottage food operations; storage, repair, or reconditioning of major household appliances; storage, repair, or reconditioning of motorized vehicles or large equipment on site; tattoo service; tow truck service; veterinary uses, including boarding; welding services; other uses the director determines to be similar to those above § 23.901.030 · code text Alcohol beverage manufacturing or sales business;

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Can I run a business from my home in Rancho Cordova?

Home businesses need zoning certification and a city business license, with at most 1 business visitor an hour and 8 a day.

Running a business from home in Rancho Cordova

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What Rancho Cordova's code says

Who this affects

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