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Thousand Oaks · Building on your lot

Running a business from home in Thousand Oaks

Thousand Oaks home businesses need a permit; at most 4 visitors a day, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and one employee at a time.

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Key points

  • Home businesses: Thousand Oaks home businesses need a permit; at most 4 visitors a day, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and one employee at a time.

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

What Thousand Oaks's code says

Thousand Oaks code What Thousand Oaks's code adds
Customer visits
  • No more than 4 visitors or customers a day.
    Applies: Only between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Students for lessons or tutoring have their own limit: 2 at a time, 7:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m.
    § 9-4.2518 · code text
    No more than four (4) visitors or customers a day shall be allowed in connection with the home occupation and may only be present between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., except as provided in subsection (ii).
  • No more than 2 students on the premises at the same time.
    Applies: Music lessons, tutoring or other instruction; only between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.
    § 9-4.2518 · code text
    No more than two (2) students shall be allowed on the premises at the same time for music lessons, tutoring, or other instructional purposes and may only be present between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.
  • Up to 8 students at the same time, once a week.
    Applies: Group instruction.
    § 9-4.2518 · code text
    However, group instruction of up to eight (8) students at the same time shall be allowed once a week.
Employees
  • No more than 2 employees per day who do not live in the home.
    Applies: Present only between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.
    § 9-4.2518 · code text
    A maximum of two (2) employees per day, not occupants of the residence and only during the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., shall be allowed at the residence.
  • No more than 1 employee at the home at a time.
    § 9-4.2518 · code text
    No more than one employee shall be allowed at the residence at a time.
Permit
  • Yes. A home occupation permit from the Community Development Director is required.
    § 9-4.2518 · code text
    A home occupation permit shall be issued if the Community Development Director determines that such use complies with the following criteria:

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Can I run a business from my home in Thousand Oaks?

Thousand Oaks home businesses need a permit; at most 4 visitors a day, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and one employee at a time.

General information, not legal advice.

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Thousand Oaks Municipal Code — full text