Indio, CA Home Business: Zoning Restrictions (2026)

The City of Indio regulates home-based businesses through Chapter 4.15 (Home Occupations) of its Unified Development Code, adopted in 2022. The chapter's purpose is to allow a use that is conducted within a dwelling by its occupants, provided the use is clearly incidental to the use of the dwelling and does not change the character of the dwelling or adversely affect the surrounding residential zone. A home occupation must be conducted entirely within the dwelling, and no more than 400 square feet of the dwelling area may be devoted to it; the chapter also allows a home occupation to be conducted in an accessory structure subject to the same standards. The existence of the home occupation must not be apparent beyond the boundaries of the parcel, and there can be no external alteration of the dwelling. Storage or display of materials, goods, supplies, or equipment related to the business may not be visible from outside any structure on the parcel. Customer/client traffic is capped: not more than five customers or clients per day may enter the dwelling, and not more than 10 vehicle trips per day may be generated by customers or clients, who must park in the driveway or directly in front of the dwelling. Commercial vehicles over a one-ton rated capacity may not be parked or stored on residentially zoned property. These zoning standards are layered on top of California state protections for cottage food and family daycare uses.