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Vacaville · Building on your lot

Running a business from home in Vacaville

Vacaville limits a home business to 20% of a building's floor area, generally with no customer visits; instruction allows up to 2 students.

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Key points

  • Home businesses: Vacaville limits a home business to 20% of a building's floor area, generally with no customer visits; instruction allows up to 2 students.

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

What Vacaville's code says

Vacaville code What Vacaville's code adds
Space used
  • No more than 20% of the total floor area of a building on the lot.
    § 14.09.270.120 · code text
    No more than 20 percent of the total floor area of a building on the lot may be used in the conduct of the home occupation.
Customer visits
  • No customer or client visits.
    Applies: Except personal instruction services and cottage food operations.
    § 14.09.270.120 · code text
    No customer or client visits are permitted except for personal instruction services (e.g., musical instruction or training, art lessons, academic tutoring) which may have up to two students at one time, and as permitted by subsection F of this section for cottage food operations.
  • Up to 2 students at one time.
    Applies: Personal instruction services, such as music lessons, art lessons and academic tutoring.
    § 14.09.270.120 · code text
    No customer or client visits are permitted except for personal instruction services (e.g., musical instruction or training, art lessons, academic tutoring) which may have up to two students at one time, and as permitted by subsection F of this section for cottage food operations.
Employees
  • No employees or independent contractors other than residents of the home.
    Applies: Cottage food operations have their own rule.
    § 14.09.270.120 · code text
    No employees or independent contractors other than residents of the dwelling unit shall be permitted to work at the location of a home occupation except as otherwise allowed for cottage food operations.
  • 1 full-time equivalent employee, plus the operator and household members living in the home.
    Applies: Cottage food operations.
    § 14.09.270.120 · code text
    Only the cottage food operator and members of the household living in the dwelling unit, as well as one full-time equivalent cottage food employee, may participate in a cottage food operation on the site.
Permit
  • A separate city business license for each home business, where applicable.
    § 14.09.270.120 · code text
    Where applicable, a separate City business license is required for each home occupation.
  • Yes. A home occupation permit is required before any home business starts.
    Applies: Processed together with a business license.
    § 14.09.270.120 · code text
    A home occupation permit is required prior to the establishment of any home-based business, and shall be processed concurrently with a business license.
Businesses not allowed
  • Automobile/vehicle sales and services; Animal care, sales, and services; Cannabis retail; Eating and drinking establishments; Firearm sales, including firearms brokers; Hospitals and clinics; Lodging; Personal services; Retail sales
    § 14.09.270.120 · 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 Vacaville?

Vacaville limits a home business to 20% of a building's floor area, generally with no customer visits; instruction allows up to 2 students.

General information, not legal advice.

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Vacaville Municipal Code — full text