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Running a business from home in Santa Rosa

An exempt home business may use at most 25% of the main home, with no employees other than residents (city rule).

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Key points

  • Home businesses: An exempt home business may use at most 25% of the main home, with no employees other than residents (city rule).

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

What Santa Rosa's code says

Santa Rosa code What Santa Rosa's code adds
Space used
  • No more than 25% of the floor space of the main home.
    Applies: For exempt home businesses.
    § 20-42.070 · code text
    The home occupation shall occupy no more than 25% of the floor space of the main dwelling.
Customer visits
  • Customers or clients may not visit the home as a regular business practice.
    Applies: For exempt home businesses. Tutoring of no more than 2 students at a time is allowed.
    § 20-42.070 · code text
    There shall be no employees other than resident of the dwelling, and no customers or clients shall visit the home as a regular business practice (excluding the tutoring of no more than two students at one time);
Employees
  • No employees other than residents of the home.
    Applies: For exempt home businesses.
    § 20-42.070 · code text
    There shall be no employees other than resident of the dwelling, and no customers or clients shall visit the home as a regular business practice (excluding the tutoring of no more than two students at one time);
  • No more than 2 non-resident employees or independent contractors.
    Applies: For home businesses that need Director Conditional Use Permit approval.
    § 20-42.070 · code text
    The home occupation utilizes the services of no more than two nonresident employees or independent contractors;
Permit
  • Director Conditional Use Permit approval is required.
    Applies: For a home business that is not exempt.
    § 20-42.070 · code text
    A home occupation shall require Director Conditional Use Permit approval in compliance with this subsection if it not considered exempt.
  • No Director Conditional Use Permit is needed.
    Applies: Exempt home businesses meeting the standards, such as household equipment only, office adjuncts, tutoring of no more than 2 students, or off-site cottage food sales.
    § 20-42.070 · code text
    A home occupation that complies with the following requirements and standards, including a cottage food operation (CFO) for off-site sale, shall not require the approval of a Director Conditional Use Permit:
  • Not treated as a home business. It is exempt from land use requirements.
    Applies: For a Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operation (MEHKO).
    § 20-42.070 · code text
    E. Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operation (MEHKO) is not considered a Home Occupation and is exempt from land use requirements as listed in Section 20-21.040, Exemptions from land use requirements.
Businesses not allowed
  • Animal hospitals; automobile/vehicle repair shops; bee keeping; kennels, including pet day care; pet grooming shops; raising of animals for commercial purposes; weapons or ammunition sales; welding shops; woodworking or metal working shops
    Applies: home occupations, except welding, woodworking, or metal working shops in the Maker Mixed Use (MMU) zoning district subject to required permits and City Code performance standards
    § 20-42.070 · code text
    The following uses and similar activities are prohibited as home occupations, except that welding, woodworking, or metal working shops are allowed within the Maker Mixed Use (MMU) zoning district, subject to required permits and compliance with all City Code performance standards:

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

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

An exempt home business may use at most 25% of the main home, with no employees other than residents (city rule).

General information, not legal advice.

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