6 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 4 cities in San Mateo County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Customary, incidental home occupations are allowed in unincorporated San Mateo County's residential zones (RE, RH, R-1, R-2, R-3, RM and PAD) with no separate permit if conditions are met: no non-resident employees, no retail business, no more than one-fourth of the ground-floor area used, and no exterior evidence of the business.
A home occupation in unincorporated San Mateo County may have only one sign or name plate, not exceeding 2 square feet, showing the name and occupation only. It must be attached flat to the dwelling and may not be illuminated, and no other display of the business may be visible from the street.
Customer visits to home businesses in unincorporated San Mateo County are restricted to incidental levels. Retail sales, regular appointments, and commercial deliveries creating traffic or parking impacts are prohibited.
Cottage food operations in unincorporated San Mateo County are regulated under California's Homemade Food Act. San Mateo County Environmental Health registers Class A operations and permits/inspects Class B operations. Class A is capped at $75,000 and Class B at $150,000 in annual gross sales, and operators are limited to a set product list.
By California state law (Health & Safety Code 1597.40-1597.46, as amended by SB 234), small and large family day care homes are a residential use by right in unincorporated San Mateo County. No conditional use permit is required, and the County cannot impose a business license, fee, or tax to operate one. The home must be licensed by the State.
California Health and Safety Code § 1597.40
1597.40. (a) It is the intent of the Legislature that family daycare homes for children should be situated in normal residential surroundings so as to give children the home environment that is conducive to healthy and safe development. It is the public policy of this state to provide children in a family daycare home the same home environment as provided in a traditional home setting. (b) The ...
Unincorporated San Mateo County does not require a separate home-occupation permit. A customary, incidental home occupation is allowed by right in residential zones as long as all the County's home-occupation conditions are met, so no special application or land-use approval is needed.
4 cities in San Mateo County have their own home business rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
5 verified rules • Cottage Food Operations, Customer Traffic Restrictions
6 verified rules • Cottage Food Operations, Customer Traffic Restrictions
3 verified rules • Customer Traffic Restrictions, Signage Rules
3 verified rules • Customer Traffic Restrictions, Signage Rules
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