Ridgecrest, CA Home Business: Zoning & Home Occupation Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- § 106-318(b)(4), R-1 permitted uses
- Allowed zones
- R-1 through R-4, RA, CEH, CHA, E-1–E-3
- Use type
- By-right permitted use, not conditional
- Excluded zones
- PA and UR agricultural districts
- Separate requirement
- Still needs § 106-31 operating permit
Summary
Ridgecrest permits home occupations by right in its single-family and multifamily residential zones, from R-1 through R-4, plus its rural residential-agriculture and estate districts.
(b)Permitted uses.(1)A one-family dwelling.(2)Accessory structures which shall be located on the same parcel of land unless the main building and the accessory structure are both located on adjacent lots which meet minimum area requirements.(3)Private greenhouses and horticultural collections, flower and vegetable gardens and fruit trees not intended for commercial purposes.(4)Home occupations.(5)Accessory dwelling units subject to the requirements of section 106-37.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 6).
Full Breakdown
Ridgecrest's zoning code lists 'home occupations' as a permitted, by-right use, not a conditional use, in the R-1 Single-Family Residential District under § 106-318(b)(4), and in the R-2, R-3, and R-4 multifamily districts, as well as the RA, CEH, CHA, E-1, E-2, and E-3 residential-agriculture and estate districts. The listing only makes home occupations an allowed land use in those zones; operating one still requires the separate home occupation permit and operating standards set out in § 106-31. The PA Primary Agriculture and UR Urban Reserve districts do not list home occupations among their permitted uses.
Violations & Fines
Running a home occupation in a zone where it isn't a listed permitted use, or without the § 106-31 permit, is a zoning violation enforceable as an infraction under § 106-64, with possible legal action to abate the use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Ridgecrest zones allow a home-based business?
Is a home occupation allowed in Ridgecrest's agricultural PA zone?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ridgecrest
How Ridgecrest compares: Easiest Cities to Run a Home Business·California rules heatmap·Compare Ridgecrest to another location·View the California home business overview
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Zoning & Home Occupation Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Kern County handle zoning & home occupation permits.