Pomona Zoning Restrictions Rules (2026): What You Need to Know

Pomona's zoning code under Title 18 permits home occupations as an accessory use in all residential zoning districts, subject to a Home Occupation Permit issued by the Planning Division. The permit process is designed to ensure that business activity remains subordinate to the primary residential use of the property and does not degrade the character of the surrounding neighborhood. Applicants must submit a description of the proposed business activity, a floor plan indicating the area to be used for business purposes, and acknowledgment of all operating conditions. The application is reviewed administratively and does not require a public hearing for standard home occupations that comply with all conditions.

The business area is limited to 25% of the dwelling's total habitable floor area. This includes any portion of the residence used for business functions — home offices, consulting rooms, studios, and storage of business materials. Garages may not be converted to primary business use if doing so would eliminate required off-street parking. The business must be conducted entirely within the enclosed dwelling; no outdoor storage, display, or operations are permitted. All equipment used must be of a type and scale normally found in a residential setting, and the business may not generate noise, vibrations, odors, electrical interference, or other impacts detectable beyond the property line.

Only persons who reside in the dwelling unit may be employed in the home occupation. Non-resident employees, partners, or independent contractors may not come to the home address to perform work as part of the business. This restriction is central to Pomona's framework for preventing residential homes from functioning as de facto commercial offices. In addition to the Home Occupation Permit, operators must obtain a separate City business license from the Finance Department. Both permits must remain current; allowing either to lapse constitutes a violation.

Pomona's proximity to Cal Poly Pomona and the Fairplex generates demand for home-based consulting, tutoring, and event-related services. The city's moderate approach balances this entrepreneurial activity against neighborhood preservation by permitting a wide range of knowledge-based and service-oriented businesses while categorically prohibiting high-impact uses such as auto repair, manufacturing, medical or dental offices, and retail establishments with on-site inventory display or walk-in customer traffic.