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Santa Barbara · Building on your lot

Running a business from home in Santa Barbara

Home businesses: up to 2 visitors at a time and 4 visits per day; only residents may work there, except 1 cottage food employee.

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Key points

  • Home businesses: Home businesses: up to 2 visitors at a time and 4 visits per day; only residents may work there, except 1 cottage food employee.

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

What Santa Barbara's code says

Santa Barbara code What Santa Barbara's code adds
Customer visits
  • Up to 2 people at a time and no more than 4 visits per day.
    Applies: Per residential unit.
    § 30.185.200 · code text
    Limited customer or client visits are permitted up to two people at a time and no more than four visits per day, per residential unit.
Employees
  • No employees other than people who live in the home.
    Applies: Exception: 1 full-time equivalent cottage food employee per unit in a cottage food operation.
    § 30.185.200 · code text
    No employees other than residents of the residence shall be permitted to work at or from the location of a home occupation except that one full-time equivalent cottage food employee per residential unit may participate in a cottage food operation.
Permit
  • A Zoning Affidavit is required.
    Applies: For each home occupation.
    § 30.185.200 · code text
    A Zoning Affidavit is required for each home occupation.
Businesses not allowed
  • Adult Entertainment Facilities; Animal Care, Sales, and Services; Barber Shops and Beauty Parlors; Hotels and Similar Uses; Eating and Drinking Establishments; Hospitals and Clinics; Retail Sales; any business which requires a City permit or license, except licenses issued for revenue purposes only
    § 30.185.200 · code text
    The following specific businesses are not permitted as home occupations.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Can I run a business from my home in Santa Barbara?

Home businesses: up to 2 visitors at a time and 4 visits per day; only residents may work there, except 1 cottage food employee.

General information, not legal advice.

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Santa Barbara Municipal Code — full text