Santa Clara County home occupations must generate no more traffic, parking, or deliveries than normal residential use. Appointment-only visits and residential-scale deliveries only.
Santa Clara County home occupation performance standards require that a home business generate no more traffic or parking demand than would normally be associated with the residential use of the property. Client or customer visits are generally limited to an appointment-only basis, typically no more than one client or small group at a time, and the total daily visits should not disrupt the neighborhood. Deliveries must be limited to those typical of a residence (UPS, USPS, FedEx) and cannot include commercial freight, box trucks, or semi-trailer deliveries. Uses that rely on steady walk-in traffic, retail sales from the home, or frequent group gatherings (fitness classes, retreats, tasting events) generally do not qualify as home occupations and require commercial zoning. Tutoring, counseling, small music lessons, and similar low-intensity uses are typical examples of allowed home occupations.
Complaints about excessive traffic, on-street parking, or commercial deliveries are common triggers for code enforcement. Violations may result in administrative citations, orders to cease the use, and escalating fines.
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