Union City allows home businesses as 'home occupations' under Municipal Code Section 18.32.020.G. The use must be clearly secondary to the residence, use no more than 20 percent of the home's floor area, operate only inside the legal dwelling by residents, and not use garages, sheds, or detached structures.
Municipal Code 18.32.020.G defines a home occupation as a use conducted entirely within the dwelling by the inhabitants, incidental and secondary to residential use, that does not change the residential nature of the property. Key limits: the business may use no more than 20 percent of the home's floor area; garages, sheds, and detached structures cannot be used; entry must be from inside the house; it must not create noise heard by neighbors; and it must not cause excessive traffic. Only one business vehicle is allowed, parked in the garage. Prohibited uses include personal services (salons, massage, studios), repair services, vehicle sales, teaching more than one pupil, dangerous goods, medical clinics, and food outside the California Homemade Food Act.
Operating a non-compliant home business is an infraction under Municipal Code Chapter 1.16 and is subject to citation. The Planning Division reviews each home business for zoning compliance before a business license is issued.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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Union City does not restrict backyard composting, and its Water Efficient Landscape ordinance (UCMC 18.112) requires compost in permitted landscape installat...
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Union City has no ordinance banning artificial turf on private property, and California Civil Code 4735 voids HOA rules prohibiting synthetic grass. For perm...
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Union City's Water Efficient Landscape ordinance (UCMC Chapter 18.112) implements California's MWELO. New landscapes of 500+ sq ft and rehab projects of 2,50...
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Union City's water purveyor is the Alameda County Water District (ACWD), serving the Tri-City area. ACWD enforces permanent water-waste prohibitions year-rou...
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All weeds on streets, sidewalks, and private property in Union City are declared a public nuisance under UCMC Chapter 7.08. The Fire Chief gives a ten-day no...
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