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

Mono County allows home occupations in all residential designations subject to a business license and compliance with the home-occupation standards, rather than a discretionary permit for the basic case. Section 04.290 requires the activity to be clearly incidental and secondary to the residence and conducted within on-site structures by the parcel's inhabitants. Core standards include: the business is carried on only by family members occupying the dwelling with no other persons employed; it produces no evidence of its existence in the external appearance of the dwelling or premises; there are no merchandise sales other than items produced on-site; no structural alterations are made for the business; traffic does not exceed neighborhood norms; and there is no outdoor storage or advertising. When a proposed home business cannot fit within those limits — for example by adding a non-resident employee or visible signage — the operator must obtain an Expanded Home Occupation Permit. That permit is a discretionary entitlement requiring Planning Commission approval at a public hearing, which gives the County the opportunity to add conditions addressing parking, noise, traffic, and neighborhood compatibility. Applicants should coordinate with the Mono County Community Development Department (Planning Division) for current application forms and fees.