A. 
Purpose. It is the purpose of this chapter to:
1. 
Allow for the conduct of home occupations that are deemed incidental to, and compatible with, surrounding residential uses;
2. 
Recognize that a residential property owner or resident has a limited right to conduct a small business from a legal residence, and that a neighbor, under normal circumstances, would not be aware of its existence;
3. 
Maintain the residential character of residential neighborhoods; and
4. 
Prevent the use of home occupations from transforming a residential neighborhood into a commercial area.
B. 
Applicability. No person shall commence or carry on any home occupation within the City without first having procured a permit from the Director. The Director shall issue a permit when the applicant shows that the home occupation meets all requirements of this chapter. Every home occupation shall fully comply with all City, County, and State codes, ordinances, rules, and regulations.
C. 
Permit Not Transferable. No Home Occupation Permit shall be transferred or assigned, nor shall the permit authorize any person, other than the person named therein, to commence or carry on the home occupation for which the permit was issued.
(Ord. 2000, 2021; Ord. 2046, 3/2/2026)
The following occupations and those considered to be of similar character by the Director shall be specifically prohibited as home occupations:
A. 
Contractor's office where employees report or assemble as a part of the job for other than administrative or bookkeeping purposes; office only is permitted.
B. 
Barbershop or beauty salon.
C. 
Carpentry, cabinet making, and welding/metal work.
D. 
Massage studio.
E. 
Automobile repairing or painting.
F. 
Medical clinic.
G. 
Hospital.
H. 
Kennel or other boarding of pets.
I. 
Medical or dental offices.
J. 
Any other activity or use, as determined by the Director to not be compatible with residential activities and/or to have the possibility of affecting the health or safety of residents, because of the potential for the use to create dust, glare, heat, noise, noxious gasses, odor, smoke, traffic, vibration, or other impacts, or would be hazardous because of materials, processes, products, or wastes.
(Ord. 2000, 2021; Ord. 2046, 3/2/2026)
Applications for Home Occupation Permits shall be filed, in writing, with the Director by the person who intends commencing or carrying on a home occupation. The application shall be upon forms furnished by and in the same manner prescribed by the Director. Where the applicant is not the owner of the lot on which the home occupation is proposed to be conducted, the application shall be accompanied by the written consent of the owner or his/her agent.
(Ord. 2000, 2021; Ord. 2046, 3/2/2026)
A. 
Within 10 working days after the filing of an application for a Home Occupation Permit, the Director shall either issue or deny the permit and shall serve notice to the applicant. The Director's decision shall be final unless an appeal is filed pursuant to Chapter 25.98 (Appeals and Calls for Review).
B. 
The Director (or the Commission on a referral or appeal) may approve a Home Occupation Permit application, with or without conditions, only if it first makes all of the following findings. Failure of the Review Authority to make all of the following findings shall result in denial of the Home Occupation Permit application.
1. 
The proposed home occupation will be consistent with the General Plan, any applicable specific plan, and the development and design standards of the subject residential zoning district;
2. 
The proposed home occupation shall meet all of the requirements of this section and will be located and conducted in full compliance with all of the standards specified in Chapter 25.72 (Home Occupation Permits) and all conditions imposed on the home occupation permit;
3. 
The proposed home occupation will not be detrimental to the public convenience, health, interest, safety, or welfare, or materially injurious to the properties or improvements in the immediate vicinity; and
4. 
The proposed home occupation will not interfere with the use or enjoyment of neighboring existing or future residential development and will not create traffic or pedestrian hazards.
(Ord. 2000, 2021; Ord. 2046, 3/2/2026)
A. 
Compliance Required. Home occupations shall comply with the applicable locational, developmental, and operational standards identified in this section as well as any conditions imposed by the Director on the home occupation permit.
B. 
Required Standards. Each home occupation shall comply with all of the following standards.
1. 
Located Indoors. Except for such outdoor uses as teaching swimming or tennis, activities shall be confined within the primary dwelling unit or a permitted accessory structure and shall not occupy required parking, open space, or yard.
2. 
Merchandise. Any merchandise produced on the premises or directly related to and incidental to the service offered shall not be sold directly from the premises, either at wholesale or retail, except by mail or other similar parcel shipping method.
3. 
Storage. Equipment or materials associated with the business shall be displayed, stored, and maintained indoors and not in any required parking areas.
4. 
Building Appearance. The exterior appearance of the building shall not be altered to accommodate the business, and the occupation shall be conducted in a manner which does not cause the premises to differ from its residential character in colors, materials, construction or lighting, or by the emission of sounds, noises, smoke, odors, vibrations, liquid or solid waste, television or radio interference, or create other nuisance.
5. 
Residency. All persons engaged in the conduct of a home occupation must be a resident, except that one nonresident is permitted.
6. 
Parking. On-site parking shall meet the standards required for the residential use.
7. 
Mechanical and Electrical Equipment. Only mechanical or electrical equipment incidental to a dwelling shall be maintained or installed.
8. 
Customer Visits. Customer visits shall be limited to daily visits typically associated with a residential use of property. In the case of instruction, such as music lessons, coaching, or tutoring, no more than six students shall be permitted at any one time unless the Director determines that additional students would not affect the use and enjoyment of surrounding properties.
(Ord. 2000, 2021; Ord. 2046, 3/2/2026)
A. 
General. A use qualifies as a cottage food operation by meeting all the following requirements:
1. 
The use is consistent with the definitions set forth in California Health and Safety Code Section 113758, as it may be amended from time to time;
2. 
The owner of the cottage food operation has registered with the County of San Mateo Environmental Health Services Division;
3. 
The owner of the cottage food operation has obtained a permit from the Director by meeting all requirements set forth in this section;
4. 
The owner of the cottage food operation complies with subsection B, below; and
5. 
The use complies with all other sections of this Code, except where otherwise indicated.
B. 
Cottage Food Operation Standards. A cottage food operation shall:
1. 
Maintain a valid and current registration from the County of San Mateo for as long as operations continue;
2. 
Produce and sell only foods on the approved food products list as promulgated by the State Public Health Officer pursuant to California Health and Safety Code Section 114365.5;
3. 
Submit to inspections by local enforcement agency representatives after receipt of a consumer complaint giving rise to a suspicion that unsafe food has been produced by the cottage food operation, or that the cottage food operation has violated this section; and
4. 
Operate in compliance with all applicable Federal, State, and local laws, including, but not limited to, California Health and Safety Code Sections 113758, 113789, 114021, 114023, 114088, 114365, 114390, 114405, and 114409, as they may be amended from time to time.
(Ord. 2000, 2021; Ord. 2046, 3/2/2026)
The Director shall have the right at any time during normal City Hall business hours, upon request, to enter and inspect the premises subject to a home occupation permit in order to verify compliance with permit conditions of approval.
(Ord. 2000, 2021; Ord. 2046, 3/2/2026)
A home occupation permit shall not be valid until signed by the applicant, with the signature acknowledging the applicant's full understanding and agreement with all of the conditions, and agreement to waive any right to later challenge any conditions imposed as unfair, unnecessary, or unreasonable.
(Ord. 2000, 2021; Ord. 2046, 3/2/2026)
A change in the type of home occupation activity (e.g., a change from one allowed activity to another allowed activity) conducted by the original resident/permittee shall also require a new home occupation permit and business license before conducting an allowed home occupation.
(Ord. 2000, 2021; Ord. 2046, 3/2/2026)