Santa Clara permits home occupations in residential zones with a business license and compliance with home occupation standards preserving the residential character of the neighborhood.
Santa Clara City Code allows home occupations as accessory uses in residential zones subject to obtaining a city business license and meeting performance standards. The business must be clearly incidental to the residential use of the dwelling, operated only by resident occupants plus a limited number of non-resident employees where permitted, and may not generate traffic, noise, dust, odor, or vibration beyond normal residential levels. No outdoor storage of materials or equipment is allowed, and retail sales from the home are generally prohibited except by appointment or online fulfillment. Certain uses such as auto repair, kennels, medical clinics, adult entertainment, and manufacturing are expressly prohibited. The home occupation cannot use more than a defined percentage of the dwelling's floor area, typically 25 percent.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Santa Clara, CA
Santa Clara regulates amplified sound and music through City Code Chapter 9.10, requiring permits for amplified events and prohibiting audible music at 50 fe...
Santa Clara, CA
Santa Clara regulates outdoor music at venues including Levis Stadium and Santana Row under City Code Chapter 9.10 and conditional use permits, with amplifie...
Santa Clara, CA
Santa Clara requires encroachment permits for new driveways, limits driveway width by zoning, and prohibits parking across sidewalks regardless of property o...
Santa Clara, CA
Santa Clara tows abandoned vehicles after 72 hours under CVC 22651(k) and participates in the Santa Clara County Abandoned Vehicle Abatement Program for priv...
Santa Clara, CA
Santa Clara limits recreational vehicle street parking to 72 hours, requires permits for extended street storage, and restricts driveway RV storage under zon...
Santa Clara, CA
Santa Clara fences must meet height, material, setback, and visibility standards under City Code Title 18 Zoning, with special rules for corner lots, histori...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Santa Clara County.
See how other cities in Santa Clara County handle zoning restrictions.
See how Santa Clara's zoning restrictions rules stack up against other locations.
Quick Compare
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.