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

Section 33-850 requires a business license from the business license division before a legally established dwelling unit is used for business purposes, and specifically extends that requirement to cottage food operations under the California Homemade Food Act and microenterprise home kitchen operations (MEHKOs) regulated by the County of San Diego. Section 33-851 gives the director authority to issue the license stating the home occupation permitted, the conditions attached, and any time limitations thereon, and the director must be satisfied the applicant will comply with Sections 33-852 through 33-854.

Section 33-852 governs minor home occupations, those with little to no external indication of commercial activity: the business must be conducted wholly within existing structures and cannot exceed 25% of the total floor area of all legal structures on the property, with inventory and supplies capped at 50% of that permitted area. Section 33-853 governs major home occupations, which may show some outward sign of commercial activity; these are capped at 33% of total floor area, and employment is limited to household members plus no more than two non-resident employees who commute in to work.

Section 33-854's general conditions apply to both tiers and outright prohibit certain uses, including vehicle repair and sales, veterinary clinics, medical clinics, commercial kennels, massage establishments, tattoo studios, and explosives or fuel manufacturing, notwithstanding the provisions of any other section of this article. No structural alteration that would prevent returning the dwelling to exclusive residential use is allowed under either tier.