Nevada County, CA Home Business: Zoning Restrictions (2026)

Nevada County Code Section 12.03.110 permits limited commercial activity in the residential and rural districts on properties developed with a residence as the primary use, provided the activity does not impact surrounding residential properties. The base district land use tables in Chapter 2 (Section 12.02.021 for the RA and R1 single-family districts) list Home Businesses as an allowed (A) use subject to Section 12.03.110; the multi-family (R2/R3) and agricultural/forest tables likewise list home businesses as allowed in AG, AE, and FR districts, while they are not permitted (NP) in the TPZ Timberland Production district. 'Limited home businesses' may also operate within commercial districts where specifically identified as an allowed use by an RC (Rural Center) district. The use must be clearly incidental and subordinate to the property's use as a single-family residence and contained entirely within any one building; no more than 25 percent of the dwelling's floor area or 400 square feet, whichever is greater, may be used for the business, and the business may occupy no more than one accessory building, not exceeding 1,000 square feet. On-site sales are limited to articles produced on site, and no equipment may generate off-site detectable vibration, glare, fumes, odors, or electrical interference, or noise exceeding the County's noise standards (Section 12.04.070).