Marin County Development Code § 22.32.100 allows home occupations as an accessory use in every residential zoning district of the unincorporated County, provided the activity is clearly secondary to full-time residential use, is not visible from the street or neighboring property, creates no off-site nuisance, does not impact on-street parking, and is limited to residents plus at most one nonresident employee. Several use types (vehicle repair, welding, mini-storage, adult businesses, dance/night clubs, etc.) are categorically prohibited.
Section 22.32.100 defines a home occupation as 'any use customarily conducted entirely on properties where residences are authorized and carried on only by its residents,' with the use 'secondary to a residential use, and compatible with surrounding uses.' Operating standards under subsection B require that: (1) the home occupation be 'clearly secondary to the full-time residential use of the property' and not cause noise or odors atypical of residential use; (2) it 'shall not require any modification not customarily found in a dwelling' and shall not be 'visible from the adjoining public right-of-way or from neighboring properties'; (4) it 'shall not impact the on-street parking in the neighborhood'; (5) it shall not change fire-safety or occupancy classifications and shall not store flammable, explosive, or hazardous materials except as approved by the County Fire Department under Title 16; (6) it shall not create 'dust, electrical interference, fumes, gas, glare, light, noise, odor, smoke, toxic/hazardous materials, vibration, or other hazards or nuisances'; and (7) it 'may have a maximum of one nonresident employee, and may only exceed this number with a Conditional Use Permit.' Subsection C lists prohibited home occupations: adult businesses, dance or night clubs, mini storage, storage of equipment for construction/service trades, vehicle repair (body or mechanical), upholstery, automobile detailing and painting, welding and machining, any use 'which generates more than one client appointment at a time,' and any other use the Director determines incompatible with residential activities.
A home occupation that violates these standards is no longer an allowed accessory use; the operator may be required to cease the activity, obtain a Conditional Use Permit (if eligible), or face Title 22 enforcement actions including notices of violation, administrative citations, and civil abatement. Repeated or prohibited uses (e.g., vehicle repair, welding) may also draw Fire Code enforcement under Title 16.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Marin County, CA
Driveway approaches onto county roads in unincorporated Marin County require an encroachment permit from County Public Works and must meet sight-distance, dr...
Marin County, CA
On County roads designated by Board of Supervisors resolution and posted with signs, oversized commercial vehicles (commercial-plated vehicles or combination...
Marin County, CA
Marin County has no county-wide overnight parking ban; on County roads designated by Board of Supervisors resolution and posted with signs, no vehicle may pa...
Marin County, CA
In unincorporated Marin County, it is unlawful to park a vehicle on any street or highway for more than 72 consecutive hours; signed roads carry additional p...
Marin County, CA
Marin County has no general ordinance banning recreational vehicles, trailers, or boats from parking on streets in unincorporated areas; the 72-hour street-p...
Marin County, CA
Shared boundary fences in California are governed by the Good Neighbor Fence Act (CA Civil Code §841), presuming adjoining owners share the cost equally afte...
See how Marin County's zoning restrictions rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.