Fresno County, CA Home Business: Zoning & Home Occupation Permits (2026)

Section 834.4.190 of the Fresno County Zoning Ordinance, Article 4, Division 6, defines home occupations to include artistic activities, professional occupations such as doctors' or counselors' offices, general office uses like bookkeeping or contracting, home crafts, personal services such as home beauty shops, certain bakery and confectionery operations using delivery vehicles rated no greater than one ton, and bed and breakfast operations that exceed the limits in Section 834.4.090. Subsection B sets the Class I tier: no land use permit is required if the home occupation stays clearly incidental and secondary to residential use, uses no more than 50 percent of the combined floor area of the dwelling or attached garage (including storage and display space), does not eliminate required off-street parking, shows no visible evidence of the business from off the property except a permitted sign, sells nothing on the premises, employs only residents of the dwelling, limits commercial deliveries to once per week, and uses no equipment that raises utility demand or creates detectable noise, vibration, glare, fumes or odors off the property.

Subsection C sets the Class II tier for uses approved through Director's Review under Chapter 846.5: the activity may extend into an accessory structure, with the area specified as a permit condition, sale of off-site products must stay incidental to on-site sales or services, employment may include one nonresident worker on parcels under five acres or two on parcels of five acres or more, and a name-plate sign is allowed under Chapter 830.3.