Whittier Municipal Code 18.10.020 bars a home-based business from using any sign not otherwise permitted in the residential zone where it is located. Because Whittier's residential zones do not allow commercial advertising signs, a home occupation effectively may not post a business sign that makes the non-residential use visible from the street.
Signage for a home-based business in Whittier is controlled by the accessory-use conditions in Whittier Municipal Code Section 18.10.020 together with the City's sign regulations in Chapter 18.73 (Division II, Signs). The home-business conditions in 18.10.020 state that there shall be no use of any sign not otherwise permitted in the zone in which the occupation is located. Whittier's residential (R) zones do not permit commercial business or advertising signage, so in practical effect a home occupation may not display an exterior business sign, illuminated sign, or other advertising that announces the commercial use to the street. The overarching policy of the home-occupation rules is that the business remain an invisible accessory use that does not change the residential character of the neighborhood - the same section bars equipment that emits dust, fumes, noise or odor and limits stock storage and vehicles. Cottage food operations carry a parallel restriction: the City's cottage-food provisions require conformance with all signage rules applicable to the residential area, and bar outdoor sales and customers queuing outside the residence. Operators who want any form of signage should confirm with the Planning Division at (562) 567-9320 and consult Chapter 18.73 before posting anything, because most residential-zone signs are limited to nameplate, address, and similar non-commercial signs.
Posting a business, advertising, or illuminated sign for a home occupation in a Whittier residential zone where such a sign is not otherwise permitted violates WMC 18.10.020 and the City's sign code (Ch. 18.73), and is subject to zoning code enforcement, including orders to remove the sign.
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