Redlands, CA Home Business: Zoning & Home Occupation Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing chapter
- Ch. 18.160, Home Occupations
- Definition
- § 18.08.315, incidental to dwelling use
- Size cap
- 10% of dwelling or one room, whichever less
- Employees allowed
- Resident family only, no outside hires
- Customers on-site
- Not allowed except limited exceptions
- Permit term
- 1 year initial, annual renewal with license
- Refile wait after denial
- 6 months, same site and same use
Summary
Redlands allows a home-based business only as a "home occupation" under Chapter 18.160, and it requires a permit, a city business license and annual renewal before anyone may operate. The rules cap the business at 10 percent of the dwelling's square footage or one room, bar employees outside the resident family, and forbid customers visiting the home except for narrow exceptions like tutoring or produce sales.
"Home occupation" means any use customarily conducted entirely within a dwelling and carried on by the inhabitants thereof, which use is clearly incidental and secondary to the use of the structure for dwelling purposes... ... There shall be no employment of persons other than the resident family of the dwelling... ... The home occupation shall not allow customers or clientele to visit the dwelling... ... No more than ten percent (10%) of the total square footage of the dwelling or one room of the dwelling, whichever is less, shall be employed for the home occupation.
Full Breakdown
315 defines a "home occupation" as a use "customarily conducted entirely within a dwelling and carried on by the inhabitants thereof," which must stay "clearly incidental and secondary" to residential use and not change the character of the dwelling. 160 then sets the operating rules. 020 lists the criteria a use must meet: no employees other than the resident family, no equipment outside normal residential practice, no direct sales of products except home-grown produce, and no customers or clientele visiting the dwelling, though the community development director may approve incidental exceptions such as music lessons, tutoring or produce sales.
The size cap is explicit: "No more than ten percent (10%) of the total square footage of the dwelling or one room of the dwelling, whichever is less, shall be employed for the home occupation," and a garage may be used only if it does not displace required parking. box. 100. A denied application for the same or substantially the same home occupation on the same site cannot be refiled for six months. "
Violations & Fines
Section 18.160.090 lets the planning commission "void any home occupation for noncompliance with conditions set forth in approving the permit," ending the operator's right to run the business from the home. Beyond permit revocation, operating in violation of Title 18 falls under the citywide enforcement scheme in Chapter 18.208: § 18.208.050 makes a Title 18 violation a misdemeanor, with each day of continuation a separate offense, enforceable by the community development department's city services representative or Redlands police under § 18.208.020.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much of a Redlands home can be used for a home business?
Can customers visit a home occupation business in Redlands?
Does a Redlands home occupation permit need to be renewed?
Can I hire employees for a home-based business in Redlands?
What happens if a Redlands home occupation violates its permit conditions?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Redlands
How Redlands compares: Easiest Cities to Run a Home Business·California rules heatmap·Compare Redlands to another location·View the California home business overview
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