Berkeley, CA Business Licensing & Operations: Auto Repair on Residential Property (2026)

040, which apply to any business conducted from a dwelling, accessory dwelling unit, accessory building, or group living accommodation room. 040(C)(7) is the operative limit for a repair business: storage, services, repairs, and other business activities, other than the permitted arrival and departure of customers and goods in transit, may not be conducted outdoors. That means engine work, bodywork, or tool storage tied to a home repair business must stay inside the structure, not in a driveway or side yard. 040(C)(9), a standard that reaches the compressors, pneumatic tools, and engine noise typical of repair work.

Depending on projected customer visits, the business is classified as Class I, II, or III and needs a Zoning Certificate, Administrative Use Permit, or full Use Permit respectively, with Class II and III requiring findings that customer and delivery traffic will not harm neighborhood parking or safety. 040(C)(2) is separate but shows how narrowly the home occupation category is drawn for anything beyond routine service work.