Sierra County, CA Home Business: Zoning Restrictions (2026)

Sierra County's zoning code (Sierra County Code Title 15) does not contain a dedicated home-occupation chapter or definition; instead, the allowance for home-based business is found in each zoning district's use list. In the R3 residential multiple-family district (Sierra County Code section 15.12.100), 'home occupations' are listed among the conditional uses, alongside professional offices and day nurseries, with all conditional uses subject to issuance of a use permit. The R1 and R2 residential districts (Sierra County Code sections 15.12.080 and 15.12.090) describe accessory uses as those 'customarily appurtenant to a permitted use,' such as private garages, workshops, and playhouses, rather than commercial home occupations. Rural residential, general forest (Sierra County Code section 15.12.170), and agricultural A1 (Sierra County Code section 15.12.160) districts focus on residential and resource uses, with non-agricultural enterprises typically requiring a use permit. Because the code ties home occupations to a use permit in the district where they are listed, applicants should consult the Planning Department to confirm what their parcel's specific zoning district permits. As the only city is Loyalton, the County's zoning controls all unincorporated parcels.