San Marcos, CA Home Business: Zoning & Home Occupation Permits (2026)

100 governs any business incidental to a primary residential use in a dwelling within a Residential (R), Agricultural (A), or Mixed Use (MU-1, MU-2) zone. 08 before the home occupation may begin, and every standard in the section must be met before the license is issued. Subsection C sets nine use conditions that all must be satisfied simultaneously: the business must be conducted solely within the dwelling; only residents of the dwelling may work in it, with no outside employees; no more than 200 square feet of the dwelling's floor space may be devoted to it (unless the Director approves more); no goods, wares, or merchandise may be displayed or stored on the premises; signage is limited to what the zone otherwise allows; the use may not appreciably increase pedestrian or vehicle traffic; on-site vehicle storage is limited to resident vehicles, excluding fleet vehicles, equipment trucks, or food trucks unless the zone expressly permits them; the business cannot require utility services beyond normal residential use; and no mechanical equipment or materials may be used that are not customarily found in a home. The purpose clause frames these limits around preserving residential character while still allowing incidental income-generating activity in the home.