Home Business in Marin County, CA (2026)
4 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Marin County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Zoning & Home Occupation Permits
Marin County Development Code § 22.32.100 allows home occupations as an accessory use in every residential zoning district of the unincorporated County, provided the activity is clearly secondary to full-time residential use, is not visible from the street or neighboring property, creates no off-site nuisance, does not impact on-street parking, and is limited to residents plus at most one nonresident employee. Several use types (vehicle repair, welding, mini-storage, adult businesses, dance/night clubs, etc.) are categorically prohibited.
Home occupations allowed in all residential zones as accessory use
Some RestrictionsMarin County Code, Title 22 (Development Code) § 22.32.100(B)(1), (B)(2), (B)(7)
B. Operating standards. ... 1. Accessory use. The home occupation shall be clearly secondary to the full-time residential use of the property, and shall not cause noise, odors, and other activities not customarily associated with residential uses. 2. Visibility. The use shall not require any modification not customarily found in a dwelling, nor shall the home occupation activity be visible from...
Signage Rules
Marin County Development Code § 22.32.100(B)(3) prohibits window displays and advertising signs for any home occupation in unincorporated Marin. The only on-site identification allowed is a single name plate not exceeding one square foot in area, and no display of merchandise or stock in trade is permitted.
No advertising signs; one 1 sq. ft. nameplate allowed
Some RestrictionsMarin County Code, Title 22 (Development Code) § 22.32.100(B)(3)
3. Display, signs. There shall be no window display or advertising sign(s), other than one name plate not exceeding one square foot in area. There shall be no display of merchandise or stock in trade or other identification of the home occupation activity on the premises.
Customer Traffic Restrictions
Unincorporated Marin County caps home-based businesses at one client visit at a time. Marin County Code of Ordinances § 22.32.100(C)(7) lists 'any use which generates more than one client appointment at a time' among the activities automatically prohibited as home occupations, alongside adult businesses, vehicle repair, and welding. A business hosting multiple simultaneous appointments no longer qualifies as an accessory home occupation.
Marin County Limits Home Businesses to One Client
Some RestrictionsMarin County Code of Ordinances § 22.32.100(C)(7)
C.Prohibited home occupation uses. The following are examples of uses that are not incidental to or compatible with residential activities, and are therefore prohibited as home occupations:1.Adult businesses;2.Dance or night clubs;3.Mini storage;4.Storage of equipment, materials, and other accessories for the construction and service trades;5.Vehicle repair (body or mechanical), upholstery, aut...
Home Daycare
Unincorporated Marin allows small family day-care homes (six or fewer children) and large family day-care homes (eight to fourteen children) by right in any single-family residence in an agricultural or residential zoning district, per Development Code Section 22.32.050. No zoning permit is required beyond the state-mandated California Department of Social Services license; a stand-alone day-care center instead needs a Use Permit.
Family Day-Care Homes in Marin County
Few RestrictionsMarin County Code of Ordinances §§ 22.32.050, 22.130.030
As provided by State law (Health and Safety Code Sections 1596.78, et seq.), small and large family day-care homes are allowed within any single-family residence located in an agricultural or residential zoning district. Child day-care centers are allowed in the zoning districts determined by Article II (Zoning Districts and Allowable Land Uses), subject to Use Permit approval, in compliance wi...
Home Business by City in Marin County
1 cities in Marin County have their own home business rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Marin County ordinances
See every category we cover for Marin County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Marin County Ordinance Hub →