Alhambra, CA Home Business: Home Occupation Permits (2026)

If you operate a business at your home in Alhambra, the city requires a Home Occupation Permit, submitted to the Planning Division for review to ensure the type of business is permitted in the residence. The substantive standards the permit confirms are in zoning Section 23.22.160 (the activity must be incidental to residential use, confined to one room of no more than 25% of a floor or 100 square feet, with no exterior indication, no objectionable nuisance at the lot line, no exterior storage, and no vehicle larger than a three-quarter-ton truck). The city states the Home Occupation Permit fee is $100.00, with payment made online through the Permit Portal or in person at the Planning counter at Alhambra City Hall. Because all businesses operating in Alhambra must have the property owner's authorization to conduct business at the property, a Property Owner Authorization of Use form must be submitted with the Home Occupation Permit application - important for renters. The Planning Division also notes that the uses allowed on a property depend on its zoning designation, of which there are more than 20 in the city, so applicants are encouraged to confirm the location is zoned for the intended business and whether any additional planning approvals are needed. A home occupation is separate from any business license or business tax registration the city may also require.