Shasta County, CA Home Business: Zoning & Home Occupation Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Zoning Code 17.88.175 (home occupation)
- Definition
- 17.02.255 (incidental income-producing use)
- Floor space
- <=25% of dwelling, or 400 sq ft in garage/accessory
- Employees
- Residents only; no outside employees
- Customer trips
- None under 17.88.175 (else 17.88.205)
Summary
Unincorporated Shasta County allows home occupations as an accessory use to a residence under Zoning Code Section 17.88.175. The activity must be incidental to the home, conducted indoors, use no more than 25% of the dwelling or 400 square feet of a garage/accessory building, have no employees beyond residents, and generate no customer vehicle trips.
1. This permit is granted for a home occupation with no customer vehicle trips, described below, and as shown on the approved site plan (Exhibit A). 3. It shall be conducted in the home, an attached garage, or a residential accessory building. 4. The floor space occupied by the home occupation shall not exceed 25 percent of the floor space of the dwelling unit if located within the dwelling unit, or 400 square-feet if in an attached garage or a residential accessory building. 5. Except for articles produced on the premises, no stock-in-trade may be displayed or sold on the premises. 6. It shall be conducted only by persons residing in the dwelling unit at which the home occupation exists. No other persons may be engaged in or employed for purposes of the home occupation. 7. It shall not generate any customer vehicle trips. (If the home occupation generates customer vehicle trips, an administrative permit is required.)
Full Breakdown
175 sets the operating standards: there must be no exterior evidence of the activity, including no outside storage, electrical interference, dust, smoke, vibration, noise, odors, fumes, or advertising signs of any kind; it must be conducted in the home, an attached garage, or a residential accessory building; the floor space used may not exceed 25 percent of the dwelling unit if inside the home, or 400 square feet if in an attached garage or accessory building; except for articles produced on the premises, no stock-in-trade may be displayed or sold on site; and it must be conducted only by persons residing in the dwelling, with no other persons engaged or employed.
175 must also generate no customer vehicle trips. 205 (see permits). These provisions apply throughout the unincorporated county's residential and rural zones; the incorporated cities of Redding, Anderson, and Shasta Lake have their own separate home-occupation rules.
Violations & Fines
A home occupation that exceeds the floor-area limits, employs non-residents, creates exterior nuisance impacts, or generates customer trips without an administrative permit is a zoning violation enforceable under County Code Chapters 1.08 and 1.12 (administrative citations and abatement) and may be required to cease until brought into compliance or properly permitted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I run a business from my home in unincorporated Shasta County?
Can I have employees or customers come to my home business?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Shasta County
How Shasta County compares: Easiest Cities to Run a Home Business·California rules heatmap·Compare Shasta County to another location·View the California home business overview
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