City of Manteca, CA HOME OCCUPATIONS

In general, a home occupation shall be located and conducted such that the average neighbor, under normal circumstances, would be unaware of its presence. All home occupations shall continuously meet the following regulations in addition to any conditions imposed by the business license for home occupation issued by the City. Prior to the establishment of any home occupation, the following requirements must be met:

Occupancy by Operator. The residence where the home occupation is located shall be the primary residence for the operator of the home occupation.

Business License. A business license from the City is required for any home occupation consistent with the requirements of this Municipal Code.

Advertising and Display. Signs pertaining to home occupations shall comply with the provisions of Chapter 17.54 (Signs on Private Property). There shall be no display of products produced by occupants of the dwelling which are visible in any manner from the outside of the dwelling unit.

Number of Home Occupations. One home occupation is allowed at a home where customers may visit the business. Otherwise, there is a limit of one additional home occupation for the residence where no customers may visit the business.

On-Site Sales. The home occupation shall not involve sale of merchandise other than that produced on the premises (e.g., artist's originals or products individually made to order), or directly related to and incidental to the services offered. Products which are not produced on the premises may be constructed on-site, using equipment normally found in a residence; however, these products may only be sold off-site at a permitted commercial location.

Primary Residential Use. The use of the residential dwelling for the home occupation shall be clearly incidental and subordinate to its use for residential purposes.

Operation and Off-Site Effects. No process shall be used which is hazardous to public health, safety, or welfare. The home occupation shall produce no evidence of its existence upon or beyond the premises such as external alterations creating nonresidential or unsightly appearance of a structure, noise, smoke, fumes, odors, light, electrical interference, dust, glare, liquid or solid waste, or vibrations. Noise levels shall comply with the City's Noise Ordinance. There shall be no use of utilities or community facilities beyond that normal to the use of the property for residential purposes.

Visitors and Customers. Generally, business visitors and customers of the home occupation are prohibited from visiting the residence. However, this provision does not apply to home occupations of an educational nature, including, but not limited to, tutoring, music instruction, swimming lessons, and art. Such uses are limited to not more than one business visitor per hour and no more than one at any given time.

Storage and Waste Materials. There shall be no outside storage of material, equipment, products, or supplies. Hazardous materials may only be stored in amounts below the thresholds as established by the local Fire Department which do not require any special permits or licenses. The home occupation shall dispose of all waste materials or byproducts on a regular, timely basis in conformance with applicable garbage collection, fire protection, and public health regulations.

Structure. The home occupation shall be confined completely within a legal structure and shall not occupy more than one room, or the equivalent of 25 percent of the floor area of a dwelling, whichever is greater, or 200 square feet of a permitted accessory building. No internal or external alterations for the home occupation shall be made to the dwelling unit that are not customarily found in or to serve residents. Conversion or alteration of a portion of the interior of the residence, garage, or accessory structure that does not result in a loss of off-street parking or adversely alter the exterior appearance of the structure may be allowed through approval of appropriate entitlements and issuance of a building permit.

Traffic, Vehicles, and Deliveries. The home occupations shall not generate deliveries, pedestrian, or vehicular traffic beyond that which is normal in a residential district. No vehicles not normally found or parked for extended periods of time in a residential area shall be located at a home occupation, including, but not limited to, tool trucks, dump trucks, semis, and vehicles for hire (e.g., taxicab, limousine, pedicab).

The Approving Authority may limit the length of time in order to effect periodic review of the home occupation operations or establish reasonable conditions on the operation of any home occupation to meet the intent of this Chapter.

(Ord. 1501 § 1, 2011)

Upon failure to comply with the home occupation regulations of this Chapter, the Community Development Director (or designee) may after notice revoke the home occupation approval and/or business license. Such revocation may be appealed to the Planning Commission pursuant to the appeal procedure provided in Section 17.08.070 (Appeals) of this Title.

Violation of City ordinances, including any conditions imposed upon the home occupation, shall be investigated by the Community Development Director. If the use is found not to be in full compliance with the Zoning Code or conditions of approval, the Community Development Director shall have cause to suspend or revoke the home occupation or amend operational conditions.

Once a home occupation has been revoked, continued practice of the home occupation at that location is no longer permitted, and subsequent applications shall not be filed within one year from the date of revocation.

(Ord. 1501 § 1, 2011)