Ventura, CA Home Business: Zoning Restrictions (2026)

Per the City of Ventura Home Occupation Information & Rules brochure (10/22 ed.) issued by Code Enforcement, a home occupation is any business or professional use that is clearly subordinate to the principal residential use of the dwelling, allowed in any residentially-zoned area. The applicant must obtain Home Occupation Standards approval from Planning before applying for a business license per the City's Apply for Business License page. Limitations include: (1) no pedestrian or vehicular traffic beyond what is normally generated by neighboring residential uses; (2) deliveries limited to one per day; (3) signs visible from outside the home are prohibited; (4) all supplies and equipment must be stored inside the dwelling unit; (5) only one business vehicle on the premises, with trucks limited to one-ton maximum capacity; (6) hazardous materials prohibited unless approved by the Fire Chief; (7) no external physical effects (noise, smoke, odors, vibration, EMI, line-voltage fluctuation); (8) no more than 500 sq ft used for the occupation; (9) maximum one non-resident employee. State law preempts municipal restrictions on certain home-based activities — Gov. Code §65852.2 (ADUs/JADUs may be used for residential occupancy), HSC §1597.40 et seq. (family daycare homes treated as residential), and HSC §113758 et seq. (cottage food operations).