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

Section 18.22.130 permits home occupations only as an accessory use to a residential dwelling, subject to a Home Occupation Permit obtained through the Other Permits and Approvals process in Section 18.05.060. The permit is personal to the applicant: it may only be issued to the property's owner or occupant, stays valid only while that person actually lives on the premises, and cannot be transferred to a new resident or a different property if the operator moves. Once issued, the home occupation must meet a set of operational standards in Subsection C.

It cannot create a public nuisance or become detrimental to the residential neighborhood through added noise, traffic, lighting, or odor, and it cannot employ anyone besides residents of the dwelling, apart from the narrower allowance made for cottage food operations. The business is confined indoors: on-premises sales, displays, or client consultation are barred except by phone, mail, or the narrow on-premises consultation exception, and no outdoor manufacturing, fabrication, or processing is allowed beyond small-scale crafts the Zoning Administrator approves. Physically, the operation cannot occupy more than 15% of the dwelling's floor area, and no outdoor area may be used for the business at all except for one parking space; one 6,000-pound vehicle tied to the business is allowed but must be stored entirely in the garage.

No interior or exterior alterations or remodeling may be made to accommodate the business, and any noise must stay within the Chapter 8.40 citywide noise limits. The Zoning Administrator investigates complaints and can revoke a permit found in violation, treating the violation as a misdemeanor under Section 18.01.070.