Butte County's Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 24, Section 24-162) divides home businesses into three tiers: a Home Office (no permit), a Minor Home Occupation (Administrative Permit), and a Major Home Occupation (Minor Use Permit). The County does not issue a separate business license for unincorporated-area businesses, but state, professional, and incorporated-city licenses may still apply.
Per the Butte County Planning Division's published FAQ and the PLA-02 Minor Home Occupation Permit application form, three home-based business classifications are established in Zoning Ordinance Section 24-162 (Article IV, Division 1 - Supplemental Use Regulations). A Home Office is limited to standard office or kitchen equipment (computer, phone, desk) with no onsite customers and no onsite employees other than residents, and requires no discretionary planning permit; common examples include online tutoring or baked goods produced for off-site sales. A Minor Home Occupation involves onsite customers (up to six per day) but no onsite employees other than residents, and requires an Administrative Permit issued by the Planning Division before operation; the application (PLA-02) is filed with the Department of Development Services at 7 County Center Drive, Oroville, CA 95965 (530-552-3701). A Major Home Occupation is an intensive use with up to twelve onsite daily customers and up to two non-resident employees, and requires a discretionary Minor Use Permit. Separately, a Cottage Food Operations License is administered by Butte County Environmental Health under California Health & Safety Code Section 113758 et seq., and a Fictitious Business Name Statement may be required from the County Clerk-Recorder.
Operating a home business that exceeds Home Office thresholds without the required Administrative Permit or Minor Use Permit is a violation of Chapter 24 of the Butte County Code. Code Enforcement (530-552-3700) may issue notices of violation, require the operator to cease the business, and impose administrative penalties. Operators may also face enforcement under the County's nuisance and code-enforcement authority, and any required state licenses (Cottage Food, contractor, cosmetology, etc.) remain independently enforceable.
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