Can I run a business from home in Tiburon, California?
Yes, for low-impact businesses. Home occupations are permitted in all residential zones but need a home occupation permit (renewed yearly) and a town business license. They're limited to art and craft work, tailoring and office-only uses, with at most one nonresident employee and no signs or visible displays.
| Zones | Permitted in all residential zones [1] |
| Permit | Home occupation permit required [2] |
| Allowed uses | Art/craft work, tailoring/sewing, office-only uses and e-commerce [3] |
| Nonresident employees | 1 maximum, plus 1 extra off-street parking space [4] |
| Signs and displays | None allowed [5] |
| Business license and renewal | Town business license; permit renewed annually [6] |
Allowed in every residential zone, with a permit
The residential use table lists home occupations as a permitted use in all residential zones, subject to Section 16-52.110 [1]. That section requires a home occupation permit for any use that meets the definition of a home occupation, filed with the appropriate fee [2]. The Community Development Director decides applications and may refer one to the Planning Commission. Appeals go to the Planning Commission.
What kinds of businesses
Home occupations are limited to art and craft work such as ceramics, painting, photography and sculpture; tailors and sewing; and office-only uses such as an architect, attorney, consultant, counselor, insurance agent, planner, tutor or writer, plus electronic commerce [3]. The review authority can approve other uses of the same general character that aren't objectionable in the zone. Firearms sales are not permitted as a home occupation.
Operating standards
- No significant additional traffic in the neighborhood, and adequate parking must be kept.
- No more than one nonresident employee, and having one requires an additional off-street parking space [4].
- No hazardous materials or equipment, and nothing visible or audible from outside or otherwise a nuisance.
- No display of goods visible from outside, and no signs on the building or property [5].
The director may add reasonable conditions for a particular activity.
License and renewal
All home businesses need a valid town business license. The home occupation permit must be renewed every year, which can be done with the business license renewal [6]; a permit lapses if the business doesn't start within one year.
State law separately protects licensed family day-care homes and cottage food operations; the town's use table lists small family day-care homes as permitted in all residential zones.
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Next steps
- Confirm your business fits the allowed categories (art/craft, sewing, office-only, e-commerce) or ask Planning whether it is of the same general character.
- Apply for a home occupation permit with the Planning Division, Community Development, 1505 Tiburon Boulevard (415-435-7390), with the fee.
- Get a Town of Tiburon business license and renew both each year.
- If you'll have a nonresident employee, show an extra off-street parking space.
Common questions
- Can I run a business from home in Tiburon, California?
- Yes, for low-impact businesses. Home occupations are permitted in all residential zones but need a home occupation permit (renewed yearly) and a town business license.
- What kinds of home businesses are allowed in Tiburon, California?
- They're limited to art and craft work, tailoring and office-only uses, with no signs or visible displays.
- Can I have employees at a home business in Tiburon, California?
- At most one nonresident employee, plus 1 extra off-street parking space.
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. 16-21.030, Table 2-1, Municipal Code Ch. 16 Sec. 16-21 Residential Zones (allowed uses and development standards), p. 1
Home occupation P P P P P P P P 16-52.110
- Sec. 16-52.110(A), Municipal Code Ch. 16 (Zoning) Sec. 16-52 Permit Review and Decisions (16-52.100 Accessory Dwelling Unit; 16-52.110 Home Occupations; 16-52.080 Tidelands Permit; 16-52.020 Site Plan & Architectural Review), p. 1
A home occupation permit is required for any use defined as a home occupation.
- Sec. 16-52.110(B)(3), Municipal Code Ch. 16 (Zoning) Sec. 16-52 Permit Review and Decisions (16-52.100 Accessory Dwelling Unit; 16-52.110 Home Occupations; 16-52.080 Tidelands Permit; 16-52.020 Site Plan & Architectural Review), p. 1
Office-only uses, including an office for an architect, attorney, consultant, counselor, insurance agent, planner, tutor, writer, etc., and electronic commerce.
- Sec. 16-52.110(C)(3), Municipal Code Ch. 16 (Zoning) Sec. 16-52 Permit Review and Decisions (16-52.100 Accessory Dwelling Unit; 16-52.110 Home Occupations; 16-52.080 Tidelands Permit; 16-52.020 Site Plan & Architectural Review), p. 1
No more than one nonresident person shall be employed, at which time an additional off-street parking space shall be required beyond that required by subsection C.2 above;
- Sec. 16-52.110(C)(5), Municipal Code Ch. 16 (Zoning) Sec. 16-52 Permit Review and Decisions (16-52.100 Accessory Dwelling Unit; 16-52.110 Home Occupations; 16-52.080 Tidelands Permit; 16-52.020 Site Plan & Architectural Review), p. 1
There shall be no display of goods visible from the exterior of the building, and no signs may be placed on the building or property.
- Sec. 16-52.110(H), Municipal Code Ch. 16 (Zoning) Sec. 16-52 Permit Review and Decisions (16-52.100 Accessory Dwelling Unit; 16-52.110 Home Occupations; 16-52.080 Tidelands Permit; 16-52.020 Site Plan & Architectural Review), p. 1
A home occupation permit shall be subject to annual renewal. Said renewal may occur in conjunction with renewal of the associated business license.