Brentwood requires a Home Occupation Permit and city business license for any business operated from a residence. The home business must be clearly incidental to the residential use, use no more than approximately 25 percent of the dwelling, and produce no external evidence (signs, traffic, noise, odors, storage) that differs from a typical residence.
Operating a business from a Brentwood residence requires two approvals: a Home Occupation Permit issued through the Community Development / Planning Division, and a Business License Tax Certificate issued by Finance. The home occupation standards, consistent with typical California zoning codes, require that the business be clearly incidental and secondary to residential use, be conducted entirely within the dwelling or an enclosed accessory structure, and typically occupy no more than 20-25 percent of the gross floor area. Prohibited home occupations generally include auto repair, commercial kitchens (unless registered as a Cottage Food Operation under AB 1616/AB 1240 or Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operation under AB 626 in counties that have opted in), welding or fabrication, manufacturing, vehicle storage beyond personal use, medical or dental practices with patient visits, and any use requiring hazardous materials. Cottage Food Operations are separately registered through Contra Costa Environmental Health and allow limited direct-sale baked goods, jams, and similar low-risk foods. Online businesses without client visits, professional consulting, freelance creative work, and tutoring are the most easily permitted categories. Permits are nontransferable and must be renewed with the business license annually.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Contra Costa County.
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