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

Section 90-72 lets a business operate inside a dwelling only if it stays accessory to residential use and does not alter the neighborhood's character. A home occupation permit, issued by the community development director after payment of a council-set fee, is required for every business in addition to the chapter 18 business license; if the license lapses, the permit automatically expires with it. 6 for occupations that might not meet the section's purpose. Once issued, the permit carries fixed conditions: the operation, including stored inventory and supplies, must stay wholly inside structures and cannot exceed 25 percent of total floor area, and the required garage space or off-street parking area cannot be counted toward that footage or used for the business.

No employees, assistants, or volunteers who are not occupants of the dwelling may work on-site, and no mechanical or electrical equipment beyond what is customary to residential use or home crafts is allowed. Customer sales are barred except by phone or computer, with a narrow carve-out for instruction limited to three students per session and six per day (the director may waive the daily cap for single events). Pedestrian and vehicular traffic cannot exceed what is customary for the zone, and the operation cannot create demand for utilities or municipal services beyond normal residential use.

If the underlying zoning is later amended to prohibit the use, the permit must be cancelled within 90 days of notification. The director can revoke a permit for any violation of chapter 90 or a permit condition unless the holder cures it within three days of written notice; repeated violations can support revocation without further notice.