Walnut Creek · Building on your lot

Running a business from home in Walnut Creek

Walnut Creek limits a home business to 20% of the home's floor area and two persons, who must be residents.

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Key points

Home businesses: Walnut Creek limits a home business to 20% of the home's floor area and two persons, who must be residents.

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

What Walnut Creek's code says

Walnut Creek code What Walnut Creek's code adds
Space used	No more than 20% of the home's total floor area. Applies: For all floor area used for any home occupation. § 10-2.3.107 · code text Not more than twenty percent of the total floor area of the dwelling unit shall be used in connection with any home occupation.
Customer visits	The business's main function may not require serving customers or clients at the home. Applies: Educational services, and supplying goods used with them, are excepted if traffic stays normal for the district and no nuisance results. § 10-2.3.107 · code text The primary function of a home occupation shall not necessitate the rendering of services to customers or clients on the premises.
Employees	No more than 2 people, and only residents of the home. § 10-2.3.107 · code text Home occupations shall be confined to the residents of the dwelling unit and shall not exceed two persons engaged therein.
Permit	A home occupation permit from the Community Development Director. § 10-2.3.107 · code text Home occupation permits may be issued by the Community Development Director providing the home occupation is not incompatible in any way with the residential character of the neighborhood, that there is no external evidence of its operation, and that the proposed use conforms to all of the following conditions: A home occupation permit from the Zoning Administrator. Applies: When the Community Development Director refuses the application, or the business will not meet all the standard conditions. § 10-2.3.107 · code text such home occupation permit may be granted by the Zoning Administrator pursuant to the provisions of Part IV. Administration. of this chapter.
Businesses not allowed	repair, manufacture, processing or alteration of goods, materials or objects Applies: when conducted on a commercial basis; exception for dressmaking, tailoring and manufacturing arts and crafts items intended for off-premises sale where no equipment or process creates an adverse neighborhood impact § 10-2.3.107 · code text The repair, manufacture, processing or alteration of goods, materials or objects; exception: dressmaking, tailoring and the manufacturing of arts and crafts items intended for off-premises sale where no equipment or process is used which creates an adverse impact on neighborhood; any use involving food handling, processing or packing Applies: when conducted on a commercial basis § 10-2.3.107 · code text Any use involving food handling, processing or packing; harboring, training or raising dogs, cats, birds, horses or other animals Applies: when conducted on a commercial basis § 10-2.3.107 · code text Harboring, training or raising dogs, cats, birds, horses or other animals; automobile and/or body and fender repairing Applies: when conducted on a commercial basis § 10-2.3.107 · code text Automobile and/or body and fender repairing.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Can I run a business from my home in Walnut Creek?

Walnut Creek limits a home business to 20% of the home's floor area and two persons, who must be residents.

General information, not legal advice.

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Walnut Creek Municipal Code — full text