Los Angeles County Zoning Restrictions Rules (2026) — What You Need to Know

Section 22.20.020 of the LA County Zoning Code governs home occupations in all unincorporated residential zones. The county takes a restrictive approach: the home must remain primarily a residence, and the business must be clearly subordinate to the residential use.

The one-occupation-per-dwelling rule means only a single business can operate from the home, even if multiple adults live there. One non-resident employee is permitted to work on-site, but the business owner must provide an off-street parking space for that employee — you cannot have your employee parking on the street in front of the neighbors' houses.

Client and customer visits are tightly controlled: a maximum of one client visit per hour, and only during the hours of 8 AM to 8 PM, Monday through Friday. Weekend and evening client visits are not permitted. This effectively rules out businesses that depend on walk-in traffic or frequent appointments.

No exterior signage of any kind is allowed — no sandwich boards, no business-name placards, no window signs visible from the street. The business must be completely invisible from the exterior of the residence.

Converted garages cannot serve as the primary business space. The county requires that the garage retain its original function for vehicle storage. Auto repair, bodywork, and similar vehicle service operations are specifically prohibited as home occupations regardless of how the space is configured.

The business cannot generate noise, vibration, glare, fumes, or odors beyond what is normal for a residential neighborhood. Storage of materials, equipment, or inventory visible from outside the home is not allowed.