Home Business in San Diego, CA (2026)
4 verified home business rules for San Diego, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Zoning & Home Occupation Permits
San Diego lets residents run a home occupation as a limited use on residential property under Municipal Code § 141.0308's standard conditions, without a separate permit, but exceeding the built-in employee, customer, or vendor limits requires a Neighborhood Use Permit.
San Diego Home Occupation Permit Rules
Some RestrictionsSan Diego Municipal Code § 141.0308
Home occupations are permitted as a limited use in the zones indicated with an "L" in the Use Regulations Tables in Chapter 13, Article 1 (Base Zones) subject to the following regulations. An applicant may deviate from the requirements in Section 141.0308(k) through (n) by obtaining a Neighborhood Use Permit in accordance with Section 126.0203.
Signage Rules
San Diego bans all signage advertising a home occupation, and other advertising for the business may not even list the home address: a flat prohibition rather than a size or placement limit.
San Diego Home Business Sign Ban
Heavy RestrictionsSan Diego Municipal Code § 141.0308(d)
(d) Signs advertising the home occupation are not permitted. Other advertising shall not include the address of the premises. (e) Home occupations, except for horticultural uses permitted in Chapter 13,
Customer Traffic Restrictions
Home occupations in San Diego may host only one customer on-site at a time, by appointment only, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, with visits spaced at least two hours apart.
San Diego Home Business Customer Limits
Some RestrictionsSan Diego Municipal Code § 141.0308(l)
(l) Home occupations may have a maximum of one customer on the premises at a time, by appointment only, between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Home occupations shall not host customers on the premises more frequently than one customer within a 2-hour time period. (m) Home occupations may have a maximum of one vendor on the premises at a ...
Home Daycare
San Diego treats small and large family child care homes as a limited zoning use under SDMC §141.0606, capping capacity at up to 8 or 14 children depending on license type and requiring state licensing compliance.
San Diego Family Child Care Home Zoning
Some RestrictionsSan Diego Municipal Code § 141.0606(b)
Large and small family child care homes are a limited use in the zones indicated with an "L" in the Use Regulations Tables in Chapter 13, Article 1 (Base Zones) subject to the following regulations. A large family child care home may provide care for up to 12 children (no more than 4 of whom may be infants), or for up to 14 children as stated in Section 141.0606(b)(1)(B).
Looking for San Diego County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement San Diego city rules.
Home Business in San Diego County →