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Home Occupations

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Summary

This bulletin describes what is allowed and not allowed for home occupations, the standards and permit thresholds for home occupations and how the permit process works.

What is a Home Occupation?

A home occupation is an accessory use, secondary to a residential use, for income-producing activities involving the manufacture, provision or sale of goods and/or services, performed by a full-time inhabitant of the unit, that does not affect the residential character of the property or neighborhood. Commercial weddings and similar celebrations, community events and fundraisers are not eligible to be permitted as home occupations. Examples of allowed activities include:

  • Music Lessons / art lessons
  • Appliance repair
  • Hairdressing
  • Tax preparing
  • Catalog or internet ordering
  • Fitness trainer / yoga classes
  • Cottage industry
  • Cottage food business (requires permit from Environmental Health)
  • Similar occupations

What uses CANNOT be a Home Occupation?

  1. Wedding venues, community events or fund-raisers. These uses require a Zoning Clearance or use permit pursuant to Santa Cruz County Code Sections 13.10.614-615.
  2. Commercial firewood operation – where wood is cut, processed, and/or stored for sale to the public

Are Permits Required?

Many home occupations do not require a permit. For home occupations that would impact the neighborhood, a Use Permit and public hearing are necessary.

Occasionally, home improvements are necessary to conduct the home enterprise. Most construction requires a building permit.

No use permit is required when these conditions are met:

  1. The allowed home occupation is carried on entirely within the dwelling or in an accessory structure permitted in the zone district.
  2. For personal services, instruction or training, only 1-2 clients or students are present at one time.
  3. The home occupation is carried on only by one or more full-time inhabitants of the dwelling.
  4. No more than 1-2 employees or staff work at the site who are not full-time residents.
  5. No more than 35 percent of the total floor area of the dwelling is used, whether inside the dwelling or within an accessory structure. If the home occupation is carried out exclusively in an accessory structure that is less than 35 percent of the area of the dwelling unit, no permit is required.
  6. There is no outdoor storage or activity.
  7. All retail goods are produced or assembled on the premises or ordered by mail.
  8. Only one vehicle not larger than a ¾-ton pickup truck, in addition to other vehicles not exceeding the standard number of required parking spaces for the subject home, is used for the home occupation.
  9. No hazardous materials are used.
  10. Noise levels comply with the County General Plan Noise Element and SCCC 8.30 and 13.15.

A use permit is required ...

  1. When the home occupation would not occur within the dwelling or within an accessory structure normally allowed within the district.
  2. When services or instruction would be provided to more than two people at a time.
  3. When three or more employees who are not inhabitants of the residence would be working or parking at the site. The maximum number of non-resident employees allowed with a permit is five.
  4. When more than 35 percent of the total floor area of the dwelling would be used. If the home occupation is carried out in an accessory structure that is more than 35 percent of the area of the dwelling unit, or the combined area used for the home occupation is more than 35 percent of the dwelling unit floor area, a permit is required.
  5. When there would be outdoor storage or activity.
  6. When noise levels would travel beyond the property line and exceed maximums established by the General Plan Noise Element or SCCC 8.30 and 13.15.
  7. When retail goods would be sold that were not produced or assembled on the premises unless the sales were by mail order.
  8. When a vehicle larger than 3/4 ton, would be used (does not apply to delivery vehicles such as UPS).
  9. When the number of vehicles used for the occupation would exceed the standard number of required parking spaces for the home.
  10. When the home occupation involves handling of hazardous materials (SCCC 7.100.020) or any acutely hazardous substance.
  11. When an illuminated sign, or sign larger than one square foot, would be used to indicate a home occupation.

Off-Street Parking

Only one vehicle, not to exceed a ¾-ton pick-up in size, may be used for the home occupation unless a Level 5 approval is received. If a ¾-ton pickup truck is used, off-street parking shall be provided for the vehicle. For home occupations with more than two employees, or providing personal services for more than two customers at a time, or on sites where the number of customers exceeds available on-site parking, additional on-site parking may be required.

Signs

One unlighted sign not larger than one square foot may be attached to the house or the building where the home occupation will be conducted. If the site’s structures are set back more than 40 feet from the front of the property line, the sign may be attached to the mailbox. A larger sign requires a CUP.

Toxic Materials

If you will be using any amount, however small, of a chemical preparation such as paint, fiberglass, solvent, resin, oil, caustic acid, gas under pressure or any other potentially hazardous material, contact the County Hazardous Materials Program staff through Environmental Health Services.

Noise

The home occupation shall not generate unacceptable levels of noise, as defined by the General Plan Noise Element, SCCC 8.30, and SCCC 13.15 Noise Planning.

 
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