Irvine Municipal Code Ch. 2-14 Home Occupation

Footnotes:

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Editor's note— Ord. No. 23-13, § 3(Exh. A), adopted July 11, 2023, amended chapter 2-14 in its entirety to read as herein set out. Former chapter 2-14, §§ 2-14-1—2-14-3, pertained to similar subject matter, and derived from Code 1976, § V.E-209.1—V.E-209.3; Ord. No. 94-7, § 3, 6-14-94; Ord. No. 95-4, § 1, 5-9-95; Ord. No. 97-05, 5-13-97.

A. The intent of the home occupation permit is to allow residents to carry on business activities in the home while ensuring there are no negative impacts on surrounding properties.

B. Actions taken on applications subject to this chapter are considered ministerial and therefore are not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), or to City CEQA procedures.

(Ord. No. 23-13, § 3(Exh. A), 7-11-23)

No person shall carry on business activities in the home without first obtaining a business license and Home Occupation Permit.

(Ord. No. 23-13, § 3(Exh. A), 7-11-23)

A. An application shall be submitted in a form as determined by the Director of Community Development or designee. No public hearing or notice is required.

B. Home occupation permits shall be approved by the Director of Community Development or designee provided the following standards are met:

1. The home occupation shall be an incidental and accessory use and shall not change the principal character of the dwelling unit.

2. The dwelling unit shall not be the primary point of customer pickup, delivery or services rendered nor shall the home occupation cause a significant increase in vehicular traffic or pedestrian activity in the neighborhood.

3. A sexually oriented business shall not be permitted to be conducted as a home occupation business.

4. There shall be no signs, direct sales or other exterior evidence relating to the home occupation.

5. The home occupation may be conducted in the garage but shall not use any space required for off-street parking.

6. Only the residents of the dwelling unit or virtual employees (employees working remotely, not on subject property) may be employed in the home occupation.

7. Electrical or mechanical equipment which creates visible or audible interference in radio, television or telephone or causes fluctuations in line voltage outside the dwelling unit shall be prohibited.

8. The home occupation shall not create noise or odors in excess of that normally associated with a residential use.

9. The home occupation is limited to one (1) business related vehicle.

(Ord. No. 23-13, § 3(Exh. A), 7-11-23; Ord. No. 24-19, § 2(Exh. A), 11-26-24)

A home occupation permit shall become effective on the date the decision is rendered and shall remain valid as long as the business activity remains consistent with the standards in Section 2-14-2 above and is operated in a manner consistent with the codes and ordinances of the City of Irvine.

(Ord. No. 23-13, § 3(Exh. A), 7-11-23)

Any violation of the home occupation requirement and standards established in Sections 2-14-2 and 2-14-3.B shall constitute a violation and will result in termination or revocation of the home occupation permit according to procedures set forth in Chapter 2-10 of the Zoning Ordinance and Chapter 3 of the Municipal Code.

(Ord. No. 23-13, § 3(Exh. A), 7-11-23)