5 rules for unincorporated San Benito County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Unincorporated San Benito County allows home occupations in every residential and agricultural zone (AR, AP, R, RT, RR, R-1, and RM) with no permit required, as long as the business is fully contained in the home and stays incidental to the residence. A larger 'rural home enterprise' with employees is allowed only in agricultural zones with an administrative use permit.
San Benito County Code Sec. 25.08.004(B)-(C)
A home occupation is allowed in the following zoning districts: AR, AP, R, RT, RR, R-1, and RM... No permit is required for a home occupation.
A home business in unincorporated San Benito County may display one non-illuminated, single-faced sign no larger than three square feet showing the operator's name and/or street address. It must be flat against the dwelling's front wall or set back at least 20 feet from the front street property line, one sign per address.
San Benito County Code Sec. 25.08.004(G)
A home occupation may display one non-illuminated, single-faced sign for the purposes of advertisement not more than three square feet in area... One sign is permitted at one address, regardless of the number of home occupations operating at the address.
Unincorporated San Benito County expressly allows cottage food operations and treats them as home occupations with added requirements. They must comply with the County Code's home-occupation standards plus California's Homemade Food Act (Government Code 51035 et seq. and Health & Safety Code 114365 et seq.) and registration or permitting through the County Department of Public Health.
San Benito County Code Sec. 25.08.003(B)
All cottage food operations shall comply with the standards and provisions in the Home Occupations section, as well as regulatory standards established by state law (Cal. Gov't Code Sections 51035 et seq. and Cal. Health and Safety Code Sections 114365 et seq.) and the County Department of Public Health.
Unincorporated San Benito County allows small and large family child day care homes by right in its residential and agricultural zones and exempts them from county planning review, deferring to California's family day care preemption (Health & Safety Code 1597.44-1597.465). Larger day care centers, by contrast, require a conditional use permit.
San Benito County Code Sec. 25.08.009
All small family child day care homes shall comply with the applicable provisions of Cal. Health and Safety Code Division 2, Chapter 3.6, Sections 1597.44 and 1597.45. Such facilities are exempt from county review and approval.
Unincorporated San Benito County requires no permit for a standard home occupation - the use is allowed by right once it meets the code's operating standards. Only a larger 'rural home enterprise' with up to five non-resident employees requires an administrative use permit, and all home businesses must still pay the county business license tax.
San Benito County Code Sec. 25.08.004(C)
No permit is required for a home occupation.
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