Hillsboro, OR Home Business: Zoning & Home Occupation Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- License required
- City business license
- Floor area cap
- 25% or 528 sq ft, less
- Worker limit
- Residents plus 2 others max
- Commercial vehicle limit
- 1 vehicle, under 1-ton rating
- Governing code
- Hillsboro CDC § 12.40.170
Summary
Running a home-based business in Hillsboro requires a City business license and compliance with Community Development Code § 12.40.170's caps on floor area, staffing, and commercial vehicles.
Operation of a home occupation requires issuance of a City business license and renewal as necessary;...No more than 25% of the floor area of all structures on the lot or 528 square feet, whichever is less, can be used in connection with the home occupation or associated storage;...No one other than the principal residents of the dwelling, and not more than 2 persons closely related to the principal residents, shall be engaged in the home occupation at the dwelling;
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 1 | Community Development Code: Supplement 1).
Full Breakdown
Hillsboro Community Development Code § 12.40.170 requires a City business license, renewed as necessary, to operate a home occupation, and caps it at no more than 25% of all structures' floor area on the lot, or 528 square feet, whichever is less. Only the dwelling's principal residents plus up to 2 closely related people may work there, and no more than one commercially licensed vehicle over a 1-ton rating may be parked at the home. Auto-body repair, outdoor mechanical work, junk/salvage operations, fireworks storage, and marijuana facilities are barred outright as home occupations.
Violations & Fines
Operating a home business without the required City business license, exceeding the 528-square-foot/25%-floor-area cap, employing more than 2 non-resident helpers, or running a barred use like auto-body repair is a Community Development Code violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What permit do I need to run a business from my Hillsboro home?
How much of my house can a home occupation use in Hillsboro?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hillsboro
How Hillsboro compares: Easiest Cities to Run a Home Business·Compare Hillsboro to another location·View the Oregon home business overview
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Zoning & Home Occupation Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Washington County handle zoning & home occupation permits.