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Title 13 — Planning, Zoning and Development›Chapter IX — SPECIAL LAND USE REGULATIONS›Article 6 — Home Occupations

§ 13-168. Evaluation standards.

Costa Mesa Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · updated 2026-07-25 · Costa Mesa

The planning division shall apply the following standards in evaluating each application to determine if the anticipated home occupation may be allowed:

  • (a) There shall be no employment of persons other than permanent residents of the premises.

  • (b) There shall be no direct sale of products, either wholesale or retail on the premises.

  • (c) No more than one room in the dwelling may be used for the home occupation.

  • (d) No building, space outside of the main building, or garage, attached or detached, shall be used for the home occupation. Storage of necessary supplies or equipment used in the home occupation may be permitted in a garage if the storage does not diminish the usable parking space in the garage.

  • (e) There shall be no use of utilities or community facilities beyond that normal to the residential use of the property.

  • (f) No use of material or mechanized equipment not recognized as being associated with a normal household use or hobby is permitted.

  • (g) The structure or appearance of the exterior of the dwelling shall not be altered or remodeled for home occupational purposes either by color, materials, construction, lighting, or in any other way. No part of the interior of the structure shall be remodeled for home occupation purposes other than the interior of the room where the home occupation is being conducted.

  • (h) No signs shall be displayed in connection with the home occupation, and there shall be no advertising using the home address, with the exception of advertising in the telephone directory.

  • (i) The home occupation shall not involve the use of commercial vehicles for delivery of materials to or from the premises, other than a vehicle of no more than one-ton capacity, owned by the operator of the home occupation, which shall be stored in an entirely enclosed garage. The storage of equipment such as trailers, tractors, trucks in excess of one ton, wheeled construction equipment, etc. is not permitted.

  • (j) The home occupation shall not generate pedestrian or vehicular traffic beyond that normal to the neighborhood where it is located.

  • (k) The home occupation shall not result in or generate parking or storing of commercial vehicles on public streets. Commercial vehicles are defined in the State Vehicle Code and, in addition, shall include construction equipment and any other mobile paraphernalia used in connection with the home occupation.

  • (Ord. No. 97-11, § 2, 5-5-97)

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▸ Contents — Costa Mesa Zoning Code
Costa Mesa Zoning Code
  1. ▸ Title 13 — Planning, Zoning and Development
    Overview
    1. Chapter I — IN GENERAL
    2. Chapter II — ZONING DISTRICTS ESTABLISHED
    3. Chapter III — PLANNING APPLICATIONS
    4. Chapter IV — CITYWIDE LAND USE MATRIX
    5. Chapter V — DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS
    6. Chapter VII — LANDSCAPING STANDARDS
    7. Chapter VIII — SIGNS
    8. ▸ Chapter IX — SPECIAL LAND USE REGULATIONS
      Overview
      1. Article 1 — Sexually-Oriented Businesses
      2. Article 2 — Antennas
      3. Article 3 — Concurrent Sale of Alcoholic Beverages and Motor V…
      4. Article 4 — Density Bonuses and other Incentives
      5. Article 5 — Electronic Game Machines
      6. ▸ Article 6 — Home Occupations
        Overview
        1. § 13-163. Purpose.
        2. § 13-164. Permits required.
        3. § 13-165. Application procedures.
        4. § 13-166. Permit fee.
        5. § 13-167. Term of permit.
        6. § 13-168. Evaluation standards.
        7. § 13-169. Revocation and appeal procedures.
      7. Article 7 — Mini-Warehouses
      8. Article 8 — Motels
      9. Article 9 — Off-Site Hazardous Waste Facilities
      10. Article 10 — Temporary Trailers
      11. Article 11 — Transitional Areas
      12. Article 12 — Transportation Demand Management
      13. Article 13 — Water Quality
      14. Article 14 — Historic Preservation
      15. Article 15 — Reasonable Accommodations
      16. Article 16 — Liquor Stores, Convenience Stores, and Mini-Markets
      17. Article 17 — Orange County Fair and Event Center
      18. Article 18 — Emergency Shelters
      19. Article 19 — Smoking and Vaping Uses
      20. Article 20 — Marijuana and/or Medical Marijuana uses and Activ…
      21. Article 21 — Location of Cannabis Distributing, Manufacturing,…
      22. Article 22 — An Ordinance to give the People of Costa Mesa Con…
      23. Article 23 — Needle and Syringe Exchange Programs
    9. Chapter X — NONCONFORMING USES, DEVELOPMENTS AND LOTS
    10. Chapter XI — SUBDIVISIONS
    11. Chapter XII — SPECIAL FEE ASSESSMENTS
    12. Chapter XIII — NOISE CONTROL
    13. Chapter XIV — OIL DRILLING
    14. Chapter XV — GROUP HOMES
    15. Chapter XVII — AFFORDABLE HOUSING ORDINANCE

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