4 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 9 cities in Contra Costa County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Home occupations in unincorporated Contra Costa require a Home Occupation Permit under Ordinance Code 82-4.242. The business must be secondary to the residential use, conducted entirely within the dwelling, use no more than 25% of the floor area, and generate no customer traffic, outside employees, or external evidence of commercial activity.
Commercial signage advertising a home occupation is prohibited in unincorporated Contra Costa under Ordinance Code Chapter 82-4. The residential appearance of the dwelling must be preserved with no signs, window displays, banners, or external evidence of a business.
County home-occupation rules bar customers, clients, or students from visiting the residence for business purposes. Exceptions are narrow (family daycare under state law) and most client-facing businesses must operate from a commercial location in unincorporated Contra Costa.
Small family day care homes (up to 8 children) and large family day care homes (up to 14 children) are protected by California Health & Safety Code sections 1597.30-1597.622. Contra Costa County cannot prohibit them in residential zones and must treat them as residential uses for zoning purposes.
California Health & Safety Code § 1597.45(a)-(e)
(a) The use of a home as a small or large family daycare home shall be considered a residential use of property and a use by right for the purposes of all local ordinances, including, but not limited to, zoning ordinances. (b) A local jurisdiction shall not impose a business license, fee, or tax for the privilege of operating a small or large family daycare home. (c) Use of a home as a small or...
9 cities in Contra Costa County have their own home business rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
4 verified rules • Customer Traffic Restrictions, Home Daycare
4 verified rules • Customer Traffic Restrictions, Home Daycare
4 verified rules • Customer Traffic Restrictions, Home Daycare
4 verified rules • Customer Traffic Restrictions, Home Daycare
4 verified rules • Customer Traffic Restrictions, Home Daycare
4 verified rules • Customer Traffic Restrictions, Home Daycare
4 verified rules • Customer Traffic Restrictions, Home Daycare
5 verified rules • Client Visits, Cottage Food Operations
3 verified rules • Customer Traffic Restrictions, Signage Rules
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