Mendocino County Municipal Code Ch. 20.696 Home Occupations

It is the intent of this Chapter to provide for the accessory use within a dwelling unit, or an accessory building on the premises, for gainful employment by the owner or occupant, that involves the manufacture, provision, preparation, or other origination of goods and/or services for sale or other disposal. The accessory use must be clearly incidental and secondary to the residential use of the dwelling for residential purposes and must not change its character or have an adverse effect on the residential or rural nature of its surroundings. A home occupation use means that the owner, lessee, or other tenant who has a legal right to occupy or reside in the dwelling also has the right to conduct the home occupation without securing a use permit. However, such use shall be subject to all applicable regulations of this Division, and to all other permits that may be required by the County Code under county code, such as including, but not limited to, a building permits and business licenses. It is the intent of this Chapter to provide for the accessory use of a dwelling unit or accessory building(s) on the same parcel as the dwelling for gainful employment involving the manufacture, provision, or sale of goods and/or services. The use must be conducted by the residents of the dwelling unit, be clearly incidental and secondary to the use of the premises for residential purposes, and must not change the character thereof or adversely affect the residential or community character of the property or its surroundings. A use permit is not required to conduct a Home Occupation; however, such use shall be subject to all applicable regulations of this Division, such as off-street parking, and to all other permits required under the County Code, such as building permits, business licenses and coastal development permits, where the use constitutes "development" as defined in Mendocino Town Zoning Code Section 20.608.023(E). A home occupation is a principal permitted use in any district where a dwelling exists.

(Ord. No. 3915 (part), adopted 1995.)

(Ord. No. 4395, § 2, 11-17-2017)

Home occupations shall conform to the following standards.

(A) No person other than members of the family residing on the premises shall be engaged in such occupation.

(B) The home occupation shall be incidental and subordinate to the use of the dwelling unit for residential purposes and not more than twenty-five (25) percent of the floor area of the dwelling unit shall be used for such occupation. Use of an accessory building or garage for the purpose of conducting a home occupation shall be permitted.

(C) There shall be no change, resulting from the home occupation, in the outside appearance of the building or premises, or other visible evidence of the conduct of such occupation other than one (1) sign not exceeding two (2) square feet, non-illuminated, and attached flat to the dwelling or visible through a window.

(D) No merchandise (except articles or other material produced on the premises) shall be sold or displayed on the premises.

(E) Not more than ten (10) customers or clients shall come to the dwelling unit for service or products during any one (1) day.

(F) Home occupations shall not involve the use of heavy commercial vehicles for delivery of materials to or from the premises.

(G) No mechanical or electrical equipment shall be employed other than machinery or equipment customarily found in the home associated with a hobby or a vocation.

(H) No equipment or process shall be used in such home occupation which creates noise, vibration, glare, fumes, dust, odors, smoke or electrical interference, detectable to the normal senses off the lot, if the occupation is conducted in a single family residence, accessory building, or outside the dwelling unit if conducted in a residence other than a single family residence. In the case of electrical interference, no equipment or process shall be used which creates visual or audible interference in any radio or television receivers off the premises or if not in a single family residence, outside the unit.

(Ord. No. 3915 (part), adopted 1995.)

(Ord. No. 4395, § 2, 11-17-2017)

The following are typical examples of uses which often can be conducted within the limits of the restrictions established in this Chapter and thereby qualify as home occupations. Uses which qualify as home occupations are not limited to those named in this paragraph (nor does this listing of a use in this section automatically qualify it as a home occupation):

(A) Artists and sculptors.

(B) Authors and composers.

(C) Babysitters.

(D) Beauticians and barbers, limited to one chair.

(E) Dressmaking, seamstress and tailors.

(F) Home crafts, such as model making, rug weaving, lapidary work or ceramics.

(G) Repair or fix-it shop for items normally found in or around the home.

(H) Office facility of an architect, attorney, broker, consultant, dance instructor, doctor, dentist, engineer, instructor in arts and crafts, insurance agent, land or marine surveyor, music instructor, real estate agent, tutor, bookkeeper or accountant.

(Ord. No. 3915 (part), adopted 1995.)