Unincorporated San Luis Obispo County requires both a Home Occupation Zoning Clearance from Planning & Building and a County Business License from the Tax Collector before a home-based business may operate.
Anyone proposing a new home occupation, relocating an existing one, or changing the name of one in unincorporated San Luis Obispo County must obtain a Home Occupation Zoning Clearance through PermitSLO. Eligible categories listed by the County include Home Distributor (e.g., cosmetics), Home Handcraft (e.g., pottery, jewelry), Home Office, and Personal Service (e.g., music lessons). The process requires confirming the use is allowed at the address, obtaining Planning staff approval, opening a Business License application with the Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector (ACTTC), submitting the PermitSLO application, and paying invoiced fees. The County Business License has a $50 application fee plus a $38 annual renewal (which includes a $4 State Disability Access surcharge). Food cottage operations, short-term bedroom rentals, and whole-house short-term rentals are NOT processed under Home Occupation Clearance and use other clearance pathways.
Operating a home occupation without the required clearance and business license may trigger Planning & Building code enforcement, abatement, and citation. PermitSLO applications void after 15 days of non-payment, requiring reapplication.
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See how San Luis Obispo County's home occupation permits rules stack up against other locations.
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