5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Madera County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Unincorporated Madera County regulates home-based businesses through the Cottage Industry Home Occupation rules in Zoning Ordinance Chapter 18.89. A cottage industry must be clearly secondary to the residence, occupy no more than 25 percent of one floor, and sit on a lot of at least one-half acre.
A cottage industry in unincorporated Madera County may identify itself only with a small nameplate. Chapter 18.89 limits on-site advertising to a two-square-foot nameplate, and the sign rules in Chapter 18.90 cap residential-zone signs at small dimensions with no general business advertising.
Cottage food operations in unincorporated Madera County are governed by California's Cottage Food Law. A Class A operation registers with the County Environmental Health Division and a Class B operation obtains a permit after inspection, with state-set gross-sales caps of $75,000 and $150,000.
In unincorporated Madera County, family day care homes are protected by California state law. Both small and large family day care homes are a residential use by right under Health and Safety Code Section 1597.45, so the County cannot require a conditional use permit or zoning prohibition.
Unincorporated Madera County requires a cottage industry permit before a home occupation can begin. Under Zoning Ordinance Section 18.89.040, no cottage industry may be established until an application has been submitted to and approved by the Planning Department.
1 cities in Madera County have their own home business rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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