Running a business from home in Sonoma County

A portion of the dwelling which does not exceed more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the total floor area of the dwelling;

A garage or portion thereof, (up to a maximum of five hundred (500) square feet) which does not displace any required parking;

A detached accessory structure or portion thereof (up to a maximum of five hundred (500) square feet).

Not more than four (4) customers or clients shall be allowed to visit the dwelling for any service or product during any one (1) day, nor more than two (2) customers or clients at any one (1) time.

Not more than four (4) customers or clients shall be allowed to visit the dwelling for any service or product during any one (1) day, nor more than two (2) customers or clients at any one (1) time.

Customer visits and deliveries shall be limited to the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and shall not occur on state and federal holidays.

No person shall be employed in the home occupation other than residents of the dwelling.

(b) Limitations on Use. The following business activities are prohibited as home occupations: (1) Adult entertainment activities/businesses; (2) Animal hospitals and clinics; pet care services such as grooming, doggie day cares or kennels of any size; (3) Automotive and other vehicle sales, repair, services, painting, storage, or upholstery, or the repair of engines, including automobiles, boats, motorcycles, trucks, or recreational vehicles; (4) Boatmaking; (5) Commercial cabinet or furniture making, furniture refinishing/antique restoration and sales; (6) Dismantling, junk, scrap, or storage yards; (7) Food processing, canning, baking, etc., including catering, or motorized mobile food vendors such as coffee carts or taco trucks; (8) Gun and weapon sales or repairs, gunsmithing; (9) Hair salons, day spas, and other uses which generate higher water and sewer demands, and higher customer visits; (10) Uses which involve medical procedures; (11) Uses that require the handling of any hazardous (including biologically hazardous) or toxic materials, substances or wastes (as defined by California or federal law), except for small, nonreportable or unregulated quantities that are used in woodworking, painting, or photography, or in the making of jewelry, ceramics, pottery, and sculpture; (12) Uses that require explosives or highly combustible materials; (13) Uses that may trigger building modifications to meet California Building Code requirements related to Americans with Disability Act (ADA) or such that a change of occupancy classification is required; (14) Welding, machine shop operations, or metal fabricating; (15) Other uses that the director determines to be similar in impact to those listed above.