Home Occupations
Santa Clara City Code § 18.60.120
in effectA. Purpose and Intent. The purpose of these home occupation standards is to regulate commercial and office uses within and accessory to residential dwellings. The intent of these standards is to allow certain home-based businesses while preserving the intended residential character of a neighborhood and/or dwelling as contemplated in the General Plan and this Zoning Code.
B. Zoning Clearance Required. Home Occupations are allowed as specified in Table 2-1 (Residential Zone Allowed Uses and Permit Requirements) and subject to the issuance of a Zoning Clearance.
C. General Standards. A Home Occupation meeting the requirements of this Section shall be allowed in any dwelling unit, including a mobile home, as an incidental use of the dwelling. The provisions of this Section shall apply to all dwelling units implemented in compliance with the requirements of this Zoning Code, regardless of the zone in which the parcel is located.
D. Home Occupation Standards. The following standards shall apply to all Home Occupation activities:
1. Authorization. No Home Occupation shall be initiated unless and until the Department issues a Zoning Clearance confirming compliance with the requirements specified in Table 4-1 (Home Occupation Standards), below, and all other provisions of this Section, and the applicant has agreed in writing to operate the home occupation in compliance with all of the requirements of this Section.
2. Business Tax Certificate. Issuance of a City Business Tax Certificate, commonly referenced as a Business License, shall in no way signify authorization of a Home Occupation or compliance of a home occupation with the requirements of this Section. Table 4-1 Home Occupation Standards
| No Operator/Employees Allowed | The dwelling unit shall be the primary dwelling of the operator(s) of the home occupation. No employee, assistant, or volunteer is allowed unless the dwelling is that person’s primary dwelling, |
|---|---|
Table 4-1 Home Occupation Standards
E. Prohibited Home Occupations.
1. The following uses and activities are prohibited as Home Occupations:
a. Animal hospitals;
b. Boarding and/or rooming house for more than one guest;
c. Food catering or production except in compliance with the Cottage Food Act (Government Code Section 51035);
d. Massage, except certified massage as defined in Article 8 (Definitions);
e. Medical doctor, chiropractor, dentist, acupuncturist, or other practitioner of the healing arts;
f. Vehicle storage, cleaning, dismantling, installation, manufacture, repair, service;
g. Vehicle sale, lease, rental, or dispatching including via e-commerce platforms;
h. Welding; or
i. Any use that does not comply with the standards specified in this Section.
2. This list, from time to time, may be increased with additional classifications which are found by the Director to change the character of the dwelling unit or adversely impact the residential neighborhood’s character.
| except for cottage food uses, consistent with the State Cottage Food Act (Government Code Section 51035). | |
|---|---|
| Clients/Customers | A maximum of two clients at a time are allowed at the dwelling. |
| Hours of Operation – Client Visits | No clients are allowed at the dwelling between 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. daily. |
| Location | The home occupation shall be conducted entirely within the dwelling and shall not be conducted within a garage, accessory structure, or outdoors. The use shall occupy no more than 25 percent of the dwelling’s floor area, excluding the garage. |
| Sales | No articles shall be displayed, sold, or offered for sale to any customer at the dwelling except in compliance with the garage/personal property sale provisions of Chapter 18.122 (Temporary Use Permits) or except fresh produce (fruit and vegetables) and cottage food products produced on the site. |
| Signs | No signs are allowed except for signs allowed for a dwelling unit in compliance with Chapter 18.42 (Sign Standards). |
| Access | Access to the home occupation area shall be from within the dwelling. No separate entrance from the exterior of the dwelling shall be allowed. |
| Traffic | The use shall not generate pedestrian or vehicular traffic beyond that which is considered normal in a residential area. |
| Vehicles | A maximum of one commercial vehicle with a manufacturer’s gross vehicle weight of no more than 8,000 pounds shall be allowed on the premises. If the vehicle is not removed from the residential neighborhood at least once every 72 hours, it must be stored within an enclosed structure on the premises. |
| Hazardous Materials | The use or storage of hazardous, flammable, combustible, or explosive materials is not allowed except for materials and in such quantities as are customarily incidental to a dwelling. |
| Equipment | No mechanical or electrical equipment shall be allowed other than equipment that is customarily incidental to a dwelling. |
| Nuisance Prohibited | The use shall not create a public nuisance with regard to dust, heat, noise, odors, smoke, television or radio interference, radiation, or vibration. |
Source: City of Santa Clara Zoning Code (santaclaraca.gov PDF)URL: https://www.santaclaraca.gov/our-city/departments-a-f/community-development/planning-division/zoningFetched: 10/24/2026