Apple Valley, CA Home Business: Zoning Restrictions (2026)

Apple Valley regulates home-based businesses through Chapter 9.19 of the Town Development Code, with operating standards in Section 9.19.050 that apply across all residential districts. A home occupation must produce no visible or external evidence of the business, and the dwelling cannot be built, altered, furnished, or decorated so as to change its residential character. The use may not encroach into any required parking, setback, or open-space area, and there can be no visible outside storage of stock, merchandise, scrap, or equipment. Traffic cannot exceed what is customary for a residential use. The Development Code sets district-specific rules: in the R-VLD, R-A, and R-LD districts, off-street parking for employees and customers must be provided behind required setbacks; in the R-E, R-EQ, R-SF, and R-M districts, the home occupation must be conducted wholly within the structures, may not use more than one room or 20 percent of the dwelling's floor area (whichever is less), and vehicle storage is limited to autos and light trucks under 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight. Performance and noise standards in Sections 9.70 and 9.73 also apply. The Planning Division approves or denies permits without a public hearing.