4 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Napa County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Napa County Code 18.104.090 limits home occupations to the dwelling itself (no accessory buildings), confines them to 25% or less of the dwelling's gross floor area, restricts work to resident-occupants only, and prohibits any off-lot detectable noise, vibration, glare, fumes, odors, or electrical interference.
Napa County Code 18.104.090 (subsections A-K)
18.104.090 - Home occupations. The following rules and standards shall apply to each home occupation: A. No person other than those persons who are regular residents on the premises shall be engaged in such occupations. B. The use of the dwelling for the home occupation shall be clearly incidental and subordinate to its use for residential purposes by its occupants, and not more than twenty-fiv...
Napa County Code 18.116.020(A) allows one wall-mounted, parallel-to-the-front-wall sign of up to one square foot displaying the occupant's name, address, and occupation without any permit. Any larger or freestanding sign for a home occupation would need a separate sign-permit pathway under Chapter 18.116, and Section 18.104.090(C) bars 'visible evidence' of the home occupation.
Napa County Code 18.116.020(A); 18.116.055 (Directional signs); Sign Permit Application Packet (PBES, Updated 10/23/2013)
18.116.020 Signs allowed without a permit. The following signs shall be allowed without a permit on any lot in any zone: A. One sign, not exceeding one square foot in sign area, attached to and parallel to the front wall of a building and containing the name, address and occupation of the occupant; B. One temporary, unlighted real estate sign not exceeding six square feet in sign area advertisi...
Cottage food operations in Napa County are authorized under California's AB 1616 / Health & Safety Code section 113758 et seq. and are registered (Class A) or permitted (Class B) by the Napa County Environmental Health Division. Class A is capped at $75,000 in 2024+ gross sales and Class B at $150,000. Napa County has not opted into the MEHKO (Microenterprise Home Kitchen) program.
Napa County Environmental Health - Cottage Food Operations program page; California Health & Safety Code section 113758 et seq.
State law was changed to allow private homes to be used for the preparation and packaging of some food products for sale to consumers under certain conditions [effective January 1, 2013 under California Assembly Bill 1616]. Class A: Direct to consumer only; $75,000 or less in gross sales in 2024 and beyond; Registration with annual fee; Consumer complaint inspections only. Class B: Direct to re...
Napa County Code (NCC) section 18.104.090(K) requires an administrative permit under Chapter 18.126 before any home occupation may be conducted in the unincorporated county. The application is processed by Planning, Building and Environmental Services (PBES) and includes site plan, floor plan, CUPA hazardous-materials disclosure, and fee.
Napa County Code 18.104.090(K); Home Occupation Permit Application Packet (PBES, Updated 10/23/2013)
The following rules and standards shall apply to each home occupation: ... K. No home occupation shall be allowed unless an administrative permit has first been issued for such use pursuant to Chapter 18.126. APPEALS: Following action on the project, there is a 10 working day appeal period before the Administrative Permit becomes effective. During this period, the decision of the Department may...
1 cities in Napa County have their own home business rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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