Lake County, CA Home Business: Home Occupation Permits (2026)

Under Article 27 of the Lake County Zoning Ordinance, a home occupation is a use 'permitted with a zoning permit' (symbol shown in Table A) issued by the Community Development Department's Planning Division at 255 N. Forbes Street, Lakeport. Applicants agree to the standard terms and conditions of Section 27.3(j), which the County publishes as a one-page 'Home Occupation Terms and Conditions' form. Key conditions include: the use must be secondary and subordinate to the residence; in R1/R2 and small SR lots it must be conducted in the dwelling or attached garage only; structural alterations need Planning Director approval; commercial pick-ups and deliveries are limited to ten per week; there may be no outdoor storage, no radio/TV interference, and no noise audible at the property line. A maximum of eight customers, clients, students, or other persons served may be on the premises on any one day, only between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., and for no more than one hour at a time; exceptions to these time limits may be approved through the minor use permit process. Home occupations involving visits by customers, clients, or students are permitted only in single-family dwellings. Vehicle and parking limits also apply: in R1/R2/SR districts, one business vehicle up to 1.5-ton capacity is allowed, and on-site parking must be provided for all home-occupation vehicles in addition to the residence's required parking. Activities exceeding these limits are handled as a Cottage Industry by minor use permit. Confirm the current zoning-permit fee with the Planning Division.