Home Occupations

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Home occupations, also known as home businesses, are defined as uses which are clearly secondary to the principal use of the dwelling, must conform to City ordinance, and does not adversely affect the public safety, health, and general welfare of the neighborhood.

Home Occupation Permit

In addition to a business license, a Home Occupation Permit is required for all home-based businesses.

Once a business license and home occupation permit are obtained, all home occupation standards (below) much be complied with.

Home Occupation Standards

(Please see the Cottage Food Home Occupation Application for specific regulations related to Cottage Food Permits)

No visible signs are allowed in conjunction with the use.
All employees of the home occupation must be immediate family members residing at the residence.
In the event outside persons are employed to perform functions of the business away from the premises, parking or storage of employees’ vehicles in the neighborhood is prohibited. All personal employee contact shall occur at the client’s location.
No noticeable movement of products, materials, machinery, or equipment in and out of the premises to be permitted in conjunction with the use.
Storage of stock shall be limited to 100 cubic feet (approximately the size of a typical residential bedroom closet).
See Section 6.02.060F for storage restrictions of hazardous materials.
Vehicles connected with the business are limited to one vehicle not exceeding an unladen vehicle weight of 4,500 pounds.
Vehicle related services such as, individual tutoring or musical instruction shall be exempt from home occupation requirements with the approval from the Planning Division Director.
The home occupation shall involve no on-site clients except for home occupations in live-work Transect zones, tutoring or musical instruction of children by appointment, and applicants with a demonstrated mobility handicap.
There shall be no on-site exterior storage of equipment, vehicles (in excess of the single vehicle) materials, or supplies connected with this business.
Tools or equipment connected with the business shall be operated so as to be imperceptible at or beyond the property line.
See Section 6.02.060M for a list of prohibited home occupations and uses.
A home occupation permit shall be obtained in compliance with Chapter 9.05 (Home Occupation Permits).