5 rules for unincorporated Imperial County, California.
Verified from official government sources
In unincorporated Imperial County a home business is a 'home occupation' under Title 9, Division 4, Chapter 4 — a residential accessory use so conducted that the average neighbor would be unaware of it. It must be run by the resident, use no more than 20% of the home, and create no nuisance.
Home occupations in unincorporated Imperial County may not advertise on site at all. Title 9, Division 4, Section 90404.03(K) states there shall be no sign permitted on the site indicating the service provided — keeping the business invisible to neighbors.
Imperial County expressly lists a cottage food operation as a permitted home occupation under Title 9, Division 4, Section 90404.01(D), referencing the California Health & Safety Code. State law (HSC 113758 and Gov. Code 51035) bars counties from banning cottage food in homes, so it is allowed subject to the County's home-occupation standards.
Imperial County's home-occupation ordinance lists 'Day care, school or pre-school' as a prohibited home occupation, but California state law overrides this for licensed family daycare homes: HSC 1597.45 makes small and large family daycare a residential use by right that local zoning cannot prohibit.
A home occupation in unincorporated Imperial County requires a Home Occupation Permit from the Planning Director before it operates. Under Title 9, Division 4, neighbors within 500 feet get a 10-day mailed notice, and an opposed application goes to an administrative hearing.
See every category we cover for Imperial County — parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Imperial County Ordinance Hub →