Home occupations in Palo Alto must not generate customer, client, or delivery traffic beyond typical residential levels. Regular client visits, commercial deliveries, or parking demand can trigger violations.
Palo Alto Municipal Code Title 18 limits home occupations such that they do not create impacts greater than ordinary residential use. This means no regular stream of customers or clients coming to the home, no employees beyond household members (with narrow state-law exceptions), and no delivery traffic above normal package deliveries. Businesses like tutoring, music lessons, or therapy that see clients one at a time may be allowed if visits are staggered, limited in number, and do not create parking demand on the street. Truck deliveries of inventory or merchandise larger than USPS/UPS/FedEx are generally prohibited. Neighbor complaints about parking, noise, or strangers are the most common trigger for code enforcement action.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
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