Showing ordinances that apply to Stanford, CA
Stanford is an unincorporated community (population 21,150) in Santa Clara County, California. Because Stanford is not an incorporated city, it does not have its own municipal code. Instead, Santa Clara County ordinances apply directly to properties here. The home occupation permits rules below are the ones that govern your area.
Unincorporated Santa Clara County does not require a standalone home occupation permit for low-impact businesses, but operators must meet zoning performance standards. Cities have their own permits.
Santa Clara County regulates home occupations through zoning performance standards rather than a separate home occupation permit in most cases. If a home business meets the standard home occupation criteria (conducted by a resident, incidental to dwelling, under 25 percent of floor area, no exterior impacts, no unusual traffic), no discretionary permit is required. Businesses that deviate from standards may need a Use Permit or Administrative Permit reviewed by the Planning Department. Operators should verify whether a county business license or tax certificate is required and whether their specific activity (food handling, childcare, professional services) needs a state license. Within incorporated cities, each municipality has its own home occupation permit process: San Jose requires a Home Occupation Permit, Palo Alto requires a Business Registry entry, and Sunnyvale requires a Home Occupation Application before operating.
Running a home business that exceeds home occupation standards without a required Use Permit can trigger stop-work orders, administrative citations, and abatement. Fines escalate with continued noncompliance.
See how Stanford's home occupation permits rules stack up against other locations.
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