2 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 3 cities in Solano County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Home occupations in unincorporated Solano County are regulated by Solano County Code Section 28.72.40 (Home Occupations, Cottage Industries, Hosted Rentals, and Other Commercial Uses), under Chapter 28 (Zoning Regulations). The County distinguishes two tiers. A Type I home occupation is a low-impact service business: only resident family members may participate, no clients or customers may come to the property, total area used cannot exceed 400 square feet (plus up to 120 sq ft of incidental storage in an accessory structure), and on-site equipment is limited to one vehicle/truck up to one-ton capacity plus one trailer. A Type II home occupation allows limited retail and customer visits — up to 10 customers per day, area up to 640 square feet, family members plus one outside employee if the parcel is at least two net acres — and is generally permitted only on larger lots through an Administrative or Use Permit. All home occupations require a Solano County business license (Chapter 14) and must remain accessory and subordinate to the residential use.
Signage for home occupations in unincorporated Solano County is tightly limited by Solano County Code Section 28.72.40 and the countywide sign rules in Chapter 28.96. A Type I home occupation may display NO sign of any kind — Section 28.72.40 expressly bars signage advertising the business at a Type I residential site. A Type II home occupation is allowed exactly one nonilluminated sign, not exceeding two square feet in area. Both tiers must avoid any external evidence of business activity beyond the permitted sign — no window displays, no flashing or animated signs, no off-site advertising on the parcel, and no signage that creates traffic, glare, or visual impact inconsistent with the residential character of the neighborhood. The general residential-zone sign standards in Sec. 28.96 supply size, height, and placement defaults and prohibit illumination of residential signs. Violations are handled through code enforcement under Chapter 28 and can result in fines and revocation of the home-occupation permit.
3 cities in Solano County have their own home business rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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