Home Business in Ontario, CA (2026)
6 verified home business rules for Ontario, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Zoning Restrictions
An Ontario home occupation must be clearly incidental and subordinate to the residential use, conducted only by the occupants of the dwelling, confined to one room occupying no more than 10 percent of the dwelling's gross floor area, and may not change the home's outward appearance or generate above-normal traffic. A long list of uses (auto repair, salons, animal businesses, machining, etc.) is prohibited.
Incidental use, 10% GFA, one room, occupants only
Heavy RestrictionsOntario Development Code Sec. 5.03.240.C (Operating Requirements) (Rev. 02.17.2026)
C. Operating Requirements. Home Occupations shall comply with the following operating standards: 1. A Home Occupation shall be clearly incidental and subordinate to the primary residential use. 2. Only the occupants of the dwelling may engage in the Home Occupation. 3. Not more than one client/customer shall visit the premises at any one time, excepting in-home educational activities, including...
Signage Rules
Ontario prohibits any change in the outward appearance of the premises and bars advertising that identifies the home occupation by its street address, effectively prohibiting on-site business signage at a home-based business.
No on-site signs; no advertising by street address
Heavy RestrictionsOntario Development Code Sec. 5.03.240.C.4 and C.5 (Rev. 02.17.2026)
4. There shall be no change in the outward appearance of the premises. 5. There shall be no advertising that identifies the Home Occupation by street address.
Customer Traffic Restrictions
Ontario home occupations cannot generate customer or delivery traffic beyond a normal household. Walk-in services like salons, medical, retail, and auto repair are not allowed as home occupations.
Ontario Home Business Customer Traffic Rules
Heavy RestrictionsCottage Food Operations
Ontario permits Cottage Food Operations as a home occupation but requires them to be conducted consistent with California state-law operating requirements and limited to products on the California Department of Public Health Approved Cottage Foods list.
Cottage Food Operations allowed per CA state law
Some RestrictionsOntario Development Code Sec. 5.03.240.C.10 (Rev. 02.17.2026)
10. Cottage Food Operations shall be conducted consistent with State law operating requirements and shall only involve products contained on the Approved Cottage Foods list maintained by the California Department of Public Health.
Home Daycare
Ontario follows California law classifying small and large family daycare homes as residential uses. State statutes preempt most local zoning, but fire clearance and basic home-occupation registration still apply.
Daycare Home Rules in Ontario
Few RestrictionsCalifornia Health and Safety Code § 1597.40 (Family Daycare Home Preemption)
Health and Safety Code - HSC. DIVISION 2. LICENSING PROVISIONS [1200 - 1796.88]. CHAPTER 3.6. Family Day Care Homes [1597.30 - 1597.622]. 1597.40. (a) It is the intent of the Legislature that family daycare homes for children should be situated in normal residential surroundings so as to give children the home environment that is conducive to healthy and safe development. It is the public polic...
Home Occupation Permits
Ontario requires a home occupation permit for any business run from a residence. The use must stay incidental to living there, with no customer traffic, signage, or exterior evidence of commercial activity.
Home Occupation Permits in Ontario
Some RestrictionsLooking for San Bernardino County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Ontario city rules.
Home Business in San Bernardino County →