Fremont requires a home occupation permit and business tax certificate for home-based businesses, with strict limits on employees, signage, customer visits, and outdoor storage.
Fremont Municipal Code Title 18 regulates home occupations as accessory uses to residential dwellings. Operators must file a home occupation application with the Planning Division and obtain a business tax certificate from the Revenue Division. The business must be conducted entirely within the dwelling or an enclosed accessory structure and must not exceed a limited percentage of the floor area, typically around 25 percent. Only residents of the dwelling may work on site; non-resident employees are prohibited. No exterior signage, window displays, or outdoor storage of materials or vehicles related to the business is allowed. Client visits must be limited and by appointment to avoid traffic and parking impacts. Uses generating noise, odor, dust, vibration, or hazardous materials are prohibited.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
See how other cities in Alameda County handle home occupation permits.
See how Fremont's home occupation permits rules stack up against other locations.
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