Daly City, CA Home Business: Zoning Restrictions (2026)

DCMC Sec. 17.36.020 defines a home occupation as 'a business, art or profession, the offering of a service, or the handicraft manufacture of products within a residential dwelling' that is secondary to the residential use. Sec. 17.36.030 requires that only residents of the dwelling conduct the work; limits the occupation to one room no greater than one-fourth the total square footage of any one floor; prohibits use of garage space, accessory buildings, or open space for the business or its storage; caps interior storage of equipment, materials, and supplies at one hundred cubic feet; bans sales and exchange of merchandise at the dwelling; and prohibits exterior alterations, a direct outside entrance to the business, hazardous or flammable materials storage, and equipment exceeding fifteen amperes at one hundred ten volts. Sec. 17.36.040 excludes occupations including automobile repair and detailing, spray finishing, welding, tow services, limousine and delivery services, mail order (except telephone only), food preparation, beauty salons, barber shops, photography studios, health care clinics, massage studios, kennels, firearm sales, contractor offices where employees report before going to a job site, and roofing businesses. The city's application requires signing an acknowledgment of these rules.