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San Benito County · Building on your lot

Running a business from home in San Benito County

A home occupation needs no permit, but only residents may work on site; a rural home enterprise needs an administrative use permit.

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Key points

  • Home businesses: A home occupation needs no permit, but only residents may work on site; a rural home enterprise needs an administrative use permit.

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

What San Benito County's code says

San Benito County code What San Benito County's code adds
Customer visits
  • Normally no more than 3 client or customer visits per day and 10 per week.
    § 25.08.004 · code text
    A home occupation shall be limited to only one client or customer visits to the site shall normally be limited to not more than three per day, and ten per week.
Employees
  • Only residents of the main home or ADU may work on-site.
    § 25.08.004 · code text
    No persons who are not residents of the primary dwelling or accessory dwelling unit may work onsite as part of the home occupation.
  • Any number of on-site residents may work in the business.
    § 25.08.004 · code text
    Any number of on-site residents may work as part of a home occupation.
  • Up to 5 non-residents may work on-site.
    Applies: Rural home enterprises in AR, AP, R and RT zones with an administrative use permit. More only with a conditional use permit.
    § 25.08.004 · code text
    Up to five non-residents may work onsite as part of a rural home enterprise, unless additional non-resident onsite employees are permitted via a conditional use permit.
  • Any number of on-site residents may work in it.
    Applies: Rural home enterprises.
    § 25.08.004 · code text
    Any number of on-site residents who may work as part of a rural home enterprise.
Permit
  • No permit is required.
    Applies: Home occupations.
    § 25.08.004 · code text
    No permit is required for a home occupation.
  • An administrative use permit is required.
    Applies: Rural home enterprises, allowed in AR, AP, R and RT zones.
    § 25.08.004 · code text
    A rural home enterprise requires the issuance of an administrative use permit.
  • A conditional use permit is required.
    Applies: Expanding a rural home enterprise, such as over 5 non-resident employees or hours outside 8 am to 7 pm weekdays.
    § 25.08.004 · code text
    As provided in this section, a conditional use permit may be used to allow certain expansions in the operations of a rural home enterprise.
Businesses not allowed
  • Animal hospital or animal clinic; clinic, hospital or facility for the care or treatment of human ills; vehicle repair; sale of vehicles by a dealer; day care center; massage parlors, saunas, Turkish baths or similar uses
    Applies: home occupation
    § 25.08.004 · code text
    The following uses shall not be operated as a home occupation:

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Can I run a business from my home in San Benito County?

A home occupation needs no permit, but only residents may work on site; a rural home enterprise needs an administrative use permit.

General information, not legal advice.

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San Benito County Municipal Code — full text