5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 9 cities in Contra Costa County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Home occupations are permitted in every legally established residential dwelling unit in any zoning district of unincorporated Contra Costa County, but only as a use 'incidental and subordinate' to the residence. The business must occupy no more than one room or 20 percent of the floor area (whichever is greater), use only residents as employees, allow no onsite clients except limited home instruction, and create no exterior indication, noise, odor, dust, fumes, vibration, smoke, or other nuisance.
Contra Costa County Ordinance Code § 82-40.010 (Standards applicable to all Home Occupations); § 82-40.012 (Ministerial permit)
1. Use. The Home Occupation must be incidental and subordinate to the use of the property as a residence. ... 4. Appearance. The residential appearance of the property at which the Home Occupation is conducted must be maintained, with no exterior indication of a Home Occupation. ... 6. Nuisances. No noise, odor, dust, fumes, vibration, smoke, electrical interference, or other interference with ...
Contra Costa County prohibits all exterior indication of a home occupation in unincorporated areas. Exterior signs, window displays, outdoor displays, and any other outward signs that a business is being conducted from a residence are not allowed; the property must keep its ordinary residential appearance.
Contra Costa County Ordinance Code § 82-40.010(4) (Appearance)
Appearance. The residential appearance of the property at which the Home Occupation is conducted must be maintained, with no exterior indication of a Home Occupation. Exterior signs advertising the Home Occupation, window displays, outdoor displays, and other exterior indications of the Home Occupation may not be used.
Home occupations in unincorporated Contra Costa County generally may not receive customer or client visits at the home. State-licensed family daycare is the protected exception. Violations draw escalating daily citations and can lead to permit revocation.
Contra Costa County Ordinance Code § 82-40.010(3) (Traffic and deliveries); § 82-40.012(C) (Clients or customers); § 82-40.012(D) (Vehicles)
3. Traffic and deliveries. The Home Occupation may not generate vehicular traffic that exceeds the traffic normally associated with a single-family residential use. Deliveries to the Home Occupation may not exceed the frequency of deliveries and types of vehicles normally associated with residential neighborhoods. Deliveries to the Home Occupation may occur only between the hours of eight a.m. ...
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...
Unincorporated Contra Costa County requires a Home Occupation Permit (ministerial, issued over the counter) or a Land Use Permit before any business activity may be conducted from a residential dwelling. A one-time $150 fee applies for the ministerial permit, and a separate business license from the Tax Collector is also required.
Contra Costa County Ordinance Code Chapter 82-40 (Home Occupations); § 82-40.012 (Ministerial Permit)
'Home Occupation' means a business activity that is conducted at a residential dwelling by a person residing in the dwelling and is a secondary and incidental use of the dwelling as a residence. ... An application for a home occupation permit will be ministerially approved only if it complies with the following standards in addition to the standards specified in Section 82-40.010. ... There is ...
9 cities in Contra Costa County have their own home business rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
5 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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