Can I run a business from home in Rancho Palos Verdes, California?
Yes, with a home occupation permit from the Community Development Director. You must live in the home, can have only one non-resident employee (who parks on site), and can't put up any signs or displays or show any exterior evidence of the business.
| Permit | Home occupation permit from the director, with a filing fee [1] |
| Residency | Business operator must live in the home [4] |
| Non-resident employees | One, who must park on site [5] |
| Signs and displays | Not allowed [2] |
| Customer traffic and parking | Can't change residential character or exceed on-site/frontage parking [3] |
| Exterior evidence | None allowed; use must be clearly incidental [6] |
| Prohibited | Commercial marijuana activities [7] |
Permit required
Running any business, profession or commercial occupation in a residential zone without first getting a home occupation permit from the director is unlawful [1]. You apply on city forms and pay a filing fee set by the City Council. The director can add conditions to the permit.
Operating standards
A home occupation is allowed only if it meets these standards:
- No signs: no displays, signs or advertisements tied to the business [2].
- Traffic and parking: the business can't create vehicle or pedestrian traffic that changes the neighborhood's residential character, or more parking demand than fits on site or along your street frontage [3]. Deliveries of bulk materials, or deliveries that change the residential character, aren't allowed.
- Residency: the person running the business must live in the dwelling [4].
- Employees: besides people living in the home, you can have one home occupation employee, who must park on site [5].
- Nuisances: no noise, vibration, odor, fumes, smoke or dust that harms neighbors, and no radio or TV interference.
- Materials: no hazardous chemicals beyond typical household products, and no outdoor storage visible from neighbors or the street. If you store business materials in the garage, the required parking space dimensions must stay clear.
- Character: the business can't change the home's residential character or show any exterior evidence, and must be clearly incidental to living there [6].
Prohibited uses
Commercial marijuana activities are not permitted as home occupations [7].
Day care
Small family day care is listed as a permitted use in single-family zones [8]. Large family day care (9 to 14 children) is listed among uses that need a conditional use permit and a large family day care home permit [9]. State law (Health & Safety Code §1597.45) treats licensed large family day care homes as a residential use by right that cities can't require a use permit for, so state law may override that provision; the zoning code itself also allows any use that state law requires to be permitted in single-family zones [10]. Cottage food operations also have state protections.
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Next steps
- Get a home occupation permit application from the Planning Division (30940 Hawthorne Blvd., (310) 544-5228) and pay the filing fee.
- Describe your business, any employee, deliveries and where materials are stored so the director can confirm it meets 17.08.030.
- Plan for no signage and on-site parking for your one non-resident employee.
Common questions
- Do I need a home occupation permit in Rancho Palos Verdes, California?
- Yes. Running any business in a residential zone without first getting a home occupation permit from the Community Development Director is unlawful. You apply on city forms and pay a filing fee, and the director can add conditions.
- Can I have employees at a home business in Rancho Palos Verdes, California?
- Yes, one. Besides people living in the home, you can have one home occupation employee, who must park on site. The person running the business must live in the dwelling.
- Can I put up a sign for my home business in Rancho Palos Verdes, California?
- No. Home occupations can't have displays, signs or advertisements tied to the business, or show any exterior evidence of the business.
- What home businesses are not allowed in Rancho Palos Verdes, California?
- Commercial marijuana activities are not permitted as home occupations. Businesses also can't use hazardous chemicals beyond typical household products, store materials outdoors in view, or create traffic or parking that changes the neighborhood's residential character.
California state protections for home-based businesses
California has no general statewide home-occupation law. Cities and counties set the rules on employees, signs, customer visits and parking. State law protects a few specific home businesses:
Family child care homes (Health & Safety Code §1597.45):
- A licensed small (up to 8 children) or large (7 to 14 children) family daycare home is a residential use by right under all local ordinances, including zoning. A city can't require a use permit.
- Cities can't charge a business license, fee or tax for operating one, and it isn't a change of occupancy under building codes.
- Local rules may apply only if they are identical to those for other homes in the same zone, whether the home is rented or owned.
Cottage food operations (Gov. Code §51035; AB 1616, effective 2013):
- Cities and counties can't prohibit home cottage food operations. They must allow them as a permitted use or through a permit limited to reasonable spacing, traffic, parking and noise standards.
- A cottage food operation has no more than one full-time-equivalent employee besides family or household members. Class A (direct sales only) is capped at $75,000 a year and Class B at $150,000, adjusted for inflation (H&S Code §113758).
- You must register (Class A) or get a permit (Class B) from the county environmental health agency.
Home kitchens selling meals (microenterprise home kitchen operations): allowed only where the city or county has authorized them, with a permit and a limit of 30 meals a day and 90 a week (§113825).
What the ordinance says
- Sec. 17.08.020, Municipal Code Title 17 Ch. 17.08 Home Occupations, p. 1
It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to establish, cause, permit or maintain any type of business, profession or other commercial occupation in any residential zoning district without first securing a home occupation permit from the director.
- Sec. 17.08.030(B), Municipal Code Title 17 Ch. 17.08 Home Occupations, p. 1
No displays, signs and/or advertisements associated with the home occupation shall be permitted.
- Sec. 17.08.030(E), Municipal Code Title 17 Ch. 17.08 Home Occupations, p. 1
A home occupation shall not create vehicular or pedestrian traffic which changes the residential character of the neighborhood and dwelling unit where the business is being conducted, or create a greater demand for parking than can be accommodated on site or on the street frontage abutting the property where the home occupation is being conducted.
- Sec. 17.08.030(G), Municipal Code Title 17 Ch. 17.08 Home Occupations, p. 1
The person conducting the profession or business must reside within the dwelling unit in which the activity is located.
- Sec. 17.08.030(H), Municipal Code Title 17 Ch. 17.08 Home Occupations, p. 1
With the exception of one "home occupation employee," as that term is defined in chapter 17.96 (Definitions), there shall be no employment of help other than individuals residing at the subject residence. The home occupation employee shall park on site.
- Sec. 17.08.030(L), Municipal Code Title 17 Ch. 17.08 Home Occupations, p. 1
The establishment and conduct of a home occupation shall not change the principal residential character of the use of the dwelling unit, nor shall there be any exterior evidence of the home occupation being conducted. The home occupation use shall be clearly incidental to the residential use.
- Sec. 17.08.040, Municipal Code Title 17 Ch. 17.08 Home Occupations, p. 1
commercial marijuana activities, as defined in section 17.96.445 (Commercial Marijuana Activities), are not permitted as home occupations in the city.
- Sec. 17.02.020(J), Municipal Code Title 17 Ch. 17.02 Single-Family Residential (RS) Districts (17.02.020 uses; 17.02.026 short-term rentals prohibited; 17.02.030 development standards), p. 1
Small family day care;
- Sec. 17.02.025(E), Municipal Code Title 17 Ch. 17.02 Single-Family Residential (RS) Districts (17.02.020 uses; 17.02.026 short-term rentals prohibited; 17.02.030 development standards), p. 1
Large family day care, pursuant to section 17.76.070 (Large Family Day Care Home Permit);
- Sec. 17.02.020(N), Municipal Code Title 17 Ch. 17.02 Single-Family Residential (RS) Districts (17.02.020 uses; 17.02.026 short-term rentals prohibited; 17.02.030 development standards), p. 1
Any other use which specifically is required to be permitted in a single family residential district by state or federal law; and