Kern County, CA Business Licensing & Operations: Auto Repair on Residential Property (2026)
Key Facts
- Excluded use
- Car repair or small engine repair (§ 19.94.030(L))
- Also excluded
- Towing service and vehicle/trailer rental
- Permit path
- None available; not a home occupation
- Alternative
- Requires commercial or industrial zoning instead
- Misdemeanor penalty
- Up to $1,000 fine, 6 months jail
Summary
Kern County's home occupation rules flatly exclude car repair and small engine repair from the list of businesses a resident may run out of a house in unincorporated areas. The same list bars towing service and the renting of trailers, autos, trucks and motorcycles, so a home-based auto repair or towing operation is not a permitted use no matter how small under Zoning Ordinance Section 19.94.030.
Permitted home occupations shall not in any event be deemed to include such uses as: A.Antique shop;B.Barbershop or beauty parlor, except pursuant to Section 19.94.020(D);C.Funeral chapel or funeral home;D.Gift shop;E.Medical or dental clinic or hospital, or chiropractic office;F.Renting of trailers, autos, trucks and motorcycles;G.Restaurant or catering business;H.Stable or kennel;I.Taxi service;J.Towing service;K.Veterinary clinic or hospital;L.Car repair or small engine repair;M.Cabinet making;N.Appliance repair;O.Upholsterer, auto or furniture.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 59 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
030 lists uses that 'shall not in any event be deemed' permitted home occupations regardless of size or floor-area compliance. ' Related trade exclusions on the same list include cabinet making (M), appliance repair (N), and upholstering of autos or furniture (O), plus non-vehicle exclusions such as a veterinary clinic (K), stable or kennel (H), restaurant (G), and medical or dental clinic (E). 020 confirms this by omission, since it authorizes home crafts, offices for specified professions, gardening service, saw sharpening, and similar low-traffic trades but never lists any form of vehicle repair.
A resident who wants to run an auto repair shop in unincorporated Kern County instead has to locate it on land zoned for that commercial or industrial use and go through the applicable commercial permitting process rather than the home occupation permit track.
Violations & Fines
Operating a car repair or small-engine repair business from a residence is not eligible for a home occupation permit, so doing so without the correct commercial zoning and permits is a Title 19 zoning violation. The building official can issue a notice of violation under Section 19.114.065, and Section 19.114.060 makes a knowing violation a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $1,000 fine and six months in county jail, with each day a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I fix cars in my garage as a small side business in unincorporated Kern County?
What if I only work on my own family's cars and never charge customers?
Are other vehicle-related side businesses allowed from home in Kern County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kern County
California rules heatmap·Compare Kern County to another location·View the California business licensing & operations overview
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