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

To operate a home occupation in unincorporated Riverside County, applicants must file a Home Occupation Permit application with Riverside County Planning (part of the TLMA). The application requires a site plan, description of the business activity, hours of operation, number of expected visits, equipment list, and signed acknowledgment of the standards in Ord. 348 § 18.28. If the proposal meets all criteria (residential character, 25% floor area max, no outside employees, no exterior evidence, no prohibited uses), the permit is approved ministerially without a public hearing. Applicants must also obtain a Riverside County Business License through the Office of the Treasurer-Tax Collector, file a fictitious business name statement if operating under a DBA, and comply with state requirements (seller's permit via CDTFA if selling taxable goods, professional licensure if applicable). Some uses additionally require CDTFA, CDPH, or state board approvals. Permits are tied to the specific resident and address; a new permit is required if the business relocates. Code Enforcement investigates complaints and may revoke permits or issue administrative citations for noncompliance, with penalties starting at $100 and escalating to $500 per violation.