Home Business in Gardena, CA (2026)
4 verified home business rules for Gardena, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Zoning & Home Occupation Permits
Gardena requires a home occupation permit before running any business from a residence, issued by the Community Development Director under Chapter 18.56 of the Gardena Municipal Code. Permitted categories include office uses limited to mail, phone and bookkeeping, plus crafts, tutoring and off-premises vending; real estate, legal, medical, beauty, auto-repair and any neighborhood-incompatible use are barred outright.
Gardena Home Occupation Permit Rules
Some RestrictionsGardena Municipal Code §§ 18.56.010, 18.56.020, 18.56.030
§ 18.56.010. Purpose. The purpose of a home occupation permit is to allow certain occupations, except large family day care homes, to be conducted within a residential dwelling and/or an accessory building, by the residents thereof, and to ensure that said occupations are incidental and secondary to the residential use and are compatible with the area in which the dwelling is located. ... ... §...
Signage Rules
Gardena flatly prohibits any signage for a home occupation. Section 18.56.040(D) bars outside storage or display of anything, including signs, related to the business, and the citywide sign chapter separately lists 'home or hobby occupation signs' among signs that cannot be permitted, constructed, erected or displayed anywhere in the city.
Gardena Bans Home Business Signs
Heavy RestrictionsGardena Municipal Code § 18.56.040(D); § 18.58.050(I)
§ 18.56.040. Mandatory conditions. ... A home occupation permit may be granted only if all the following conditions are met: ... ... D. There shall be no outside storage or display of anything, including signs, related to the home occupation. ... ... § 18.58.050. Prohibited signs. The following signs shall not be permitted, constructed, erected or allowed to remain on display in the city: ... ....
Customer Traffic Restrictions
A Gardena home occupation permit is conditioned on generating no more traffic, parking demand, sewerage or water use than is normal for a residential use. The dwelling's outside appearance cannot change and the business cannot be visible from the street, and no required parking space may be taken over, capping the operation to a single room in the home.
Gardena Home Business Traffic Limits
Some RestrictionsGardena Municipal Code § 18.56.040(A), (B), (E)
§ 18.56.040. Mandatory conditions. ... A home occupation permit may be granted only if all the following conditions are met: A. There shall be no generation of traffic, parking, sewerage, or water use in excess of what is normal for a residential use. B. There shall be no change in the outside appearance of the residential dwelling, and the home occupation shall not be visible from the street. ...
Home Daycare
Gardena allows a small family day care home, one serving eight or fewer children, as a by-right residential use in any zone where housing is permitted. A large family day care home, serving seven to fourteen children, needs a home occupation permit under Chapter 18.56, which sets parking, spacing, noise and state-licensing conditions the community development director must confirm before approval.
Home Daycare Zoning in Gardena
Some RestrictionsGardena Municipal Code § 18.04.010
"Large family day care home" means a home that provides family day care to seven to fourteen children, inclusive, including children under the age of ten years who reside at the home, as set forth in Health and Safety Code Section 1597.465 and as defined in regulations issued by the state of California. Large day care family homes shall be permitted in all residential zones subject to approval ...
Looking for Los Angeles County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Gardena city rules.
Home Business in Los Angeles County →