Monterey, CA Home Business: Signage Rules (2026)

Section 38-108(B) of the Zoning Ordinance pairs two related bans that together keep a home-based business visually and publicly anonymous at the property. Condition 3 is absolute: "No sign for the home occupation shall be displayed on the house or property," with no exception for a small nameplate, a window sign, or a temporary sign during business hours, which is stricter than Monterey's general sign ordinance under Chapter 31 that allows small exempt signs for other uses. Condition 4 extends the anonymity requirement to advertising itself, prohibiting any ad in a newspaper, magazine, telephone directory, radio, television, or social media that contains the property's address, so a home business can market its services but cannot direct customers to the residence by publishing its street address anywhere.

These sign and address bans sit alongside the requirement that there be "no exterior evidence of the conduct of a home occupation" under condition 6, and no visible storage or display of materials under condition 5, reinforcing that the home occupation exemption in Monterey trades the right to operate without a discretionary permit for a complete absence of outward commercial identity. A home occupation that wants a public storefront presence, a sign, or an advertised address does not qualify for the by-right home occupation category and instead needs to locate in a commercially zoned property and go through the ordinary commercial permitting and sign-permit process under Chapter 31.