6 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 8 cities in Riverside County, California.
Verified from official government sources
In unincorporated Riverside County, home occupations are a permitted (by-right) use in residential zones under Ordinance 348 (e.g., the R-1 One-Family Dwelling Zone, Section 6.1). The use must be incidental and secondary to the residence, conducted entirely within the dwelling, and may not be operated in an accessory structure. The residential character of the property must be preserved.
Home occupation signage in unincorporated Riverside County is tightly limited by Ordinance 348, Section 21.36: no signs are allowed other than one unlighted identification sign, not more than two square feet in area. The same two-square-foot, unlighted limit applies to cottage food operations under Section 18.53, and family day care homes may install an on-site identification sign per the ordinance.
Riverside County Ordinance 348 Section 18.28 limits customer and client visits to a home occupation and prohibits any activity that generates traffic or parking demand exceeding normal residential levels. Walk-in retail sales to the general public are not allowed in residential zones.
Cottage food operations are a permitted accessory use in residential dwellings in unincorporated Riverside County under Ordinance 348, Section 18.53. Operators must comply with County Environmental Health permitting under Ordinance 916 and California's Homemade Food Act (AB-1616 / HSC 113758), which sets Class A and Class B registration/permit tiers and annual gross-sales caps administered by the County.
Family day care homes are protected by California state preemption and need no County zoning permit in unincorporated Riverside County. Under Ordinance 348, Section 18.29a, small (up to 7-8 children) and large (8-14 children) family day care homes are a permitted use by right in all zones allowing the dwelling type. A state license is required.
Unincorporated Riverside County requires no discretionary home occupation permit - Ordinance 348 lists home occupations as a permitted by-right use in residential zones, subject to Section 21.36 standards. The County has no general business license, but businesses must complete a Business (Stormwater) Registration under Ordinance 857; most home occupations are fee-exempt.
8 cities in Riverside County have their own home business rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
6 verified rules • Cottage Food Operations, Customer Traffic Restrictions
6 verified rules • Cottage Food Operations, Customer Traffic Restrictions
6 verified rules • Cottage Food Operations, Customer Traffic Restrictions
6 verified rules • Cottage Food Operations, Customer Traffic Restrictions
6 verified rules • Cottage Food Operations, Customer Traffic Restrictions
6 verified rules • Cottage Food Operations, Customer Traffic Restrictions
6 verified rules • Cottage Food Operations, Customer Traffic Restrictions
6 verified rules • Cottage Food Operations, Customer Traffic Restrictions
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