Home Business in San Rafael, CA (2026)
4 verified home business rules for San Rafael, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Zoning & Home Occupation Permits
San Rafael grants residents a vested right to run a qualifying home occupation without a separate zoning permit, as long as the business meets every standard in the city's home occupation ordinance.
San Rafael Home Occupation Permit Rule
Few RestrictionsSan Rafael Municipal Code § 14.16.220.B
A home occupation is defined as follows: A home occupation is an accessory use of a dwelling unit, conducted entirely within the dwelling unit, carried on by one (1) or more persons, all of whom reside within the dwelling unit. The use is clearly incidental and secondary to the use of the dwelling for residential purposes and does not change the character thereof or adversely affect the neighbo...
Signage Rules
A San Rafael home occupation may display only one nameplate, capped at one square foot, non-illuminated, and attached flat to the house or shown through a window. The one-nameplate limit applies even on corner lots, per San Rafael Municipal Code Section 14.16.220.D.
San Rafael Home Business Nameplate Sign Limit
Significant RestrictionsSan Rafael Municipal Code § 14.16.220.D
D.Nameplate Allowed. Up to one (1) nameplate shall be allowed. It may display the name of the occupant and/or the name of the home occupation (e.g., John Jones—Realtor). It shall not exceed one (1) square foot in area, shall be nonilluminated, and attached flat to the main structure or visible through a window. The limitation to one (1) nameplate applies to all lots, including corner lots.
Customer Traffic Restrictions
A San Rafael home occupation can serve only one client at a time on-site, with appointments spaced to avoid waiting clients. The business may add no more than one extra vehicle's worth of traffic and park at most one business vehicle under 2.5 gross tons on-site, per Section 14.16.220.C.5.
San Rafael Home Business One-Client Rule
Some RestrictionsSan Rafael Municipal Code § 14.16.220.C.5
5.The home occupation(s) shall be operated to allow no more than one (1) client at a time on-site. Appointments shall be scheduled at reasonable intervals to maintain a low-intensity use and avoid client waits. The home occupation(s) may increase vehicular traffic flow and parking by no more than one (1) additional vehicle at a time. One (1) vehicle, associated with the home occupation(s), may ...
Home Daycare
San Rafael allows a small family day care home caring for up to 8 children by right in every residential zone; caring for 9 to 14 children needs only an administrative permit, no public hearing.
San Rafael Family Day Care Home Zoning
Few RestrictionsSan Rafael Municipal Code § 14.04.020 (Table 14.04.020)
Family day care home Small (0-8 children or adults) P P P P P Large (9-14 children) A A A A A See standards, Chapter 14.17 Large (9-14 adults) C C C C C Day care center (15 or more children or adults) C* C C C C* *Prohibited in R2a, R1a and PD districts, and R20 hillside residential lots.
Looking for Marin County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement San Rafael city rules.
Home Business in Marin County →