Santa Barbara, CA Home Business: Home Occupation Permits (2026)

Instead of a discretionary home occupation permit, the City of Santa Barbara requires a self-certified Home Occupation Affidavit submitted to the Community Development Department, plus a separate City Business License before any business activity. There is no fee to submit the affidavit, which is filed online via the City's Accela Citizen Access (ACA) portal. By signing, the operator certifies under penalty of perjury that the business is an allowable use and agrees to operate per the Home Occupation Ordinance (cited as SBMC 30.185.200 or 28.04.020). Key conditions: no employees other than residents may work at the home occupation, except one full-time-equivalent cottage food employee; client contact is limited to up to two clients at a time and no more than four visits per day; on-premise commodity storage is prohibited; direct sale or display of products is not permitted except by mail, phone, internet, or other electronic communication (or qualifying cottage food sales); and equipment not customarily incidental to domestic use is not allowed. A new affidavit is required for each home occupation - it is not transferable and cannot be modified to a different business. Certain uses are flatly prohibited as home occupations. This is the incorporated City of Santa Barbara's process; unincorporated properties follow Santa Barbara County.