West Covina Municipal Code Div. 6 Live/Work Units

(a) The following commercial/residential activities, conducted wholly within enclosed buildings, shall be permitted provided the commercial/office uses shall occur in conjunction with residential uses and are not standalone uses:

(1) Apparel—Custom tailoring and sales of apparel, clothing and other sewing products made on the premises;

(2) Artists and craft/sculpture products, sales galleries, and studios;

(3) Internet-based commerce (no inventory, no pornography);

(4) Office—Creative/tech-based offices and services;

(5) Office—Professional offices and services;

(6) Photographer/photography studios;

(7) Residential uses in conjunction with office, retail or other work-related uses as permitted herein for live/work development;

(8) Spas and personal care to include nail salons and hair salons (for single patron use only);

(9) Similar uses permitted by the determination of the Community Development Director.

(b) The Community Development Director or their designee may permit any other uses that the Community Development Director or their designee determine to be similar to those listed above, in conformity with the intent of the zone, and not detrimental to public health, safety and welfare, or to other uses permitted in the zone.

(c) The property development standards set forth in article II, division 2 of the West Covina Development Code shall apply to all live/work units. The following standards shall also apply to live/work units:

(1) Live/work units include the residential living dwelling and a workspace within one (1) unit of a building for self-employed residents. A live/work unit may be fully residential units.

(2) The workspace component of a live/work unit shall be limited to a maximum of fifty (50) percent of the entire unit area (not including porches and garages), and can only be located on the ground floor.

(3) The property manager will be responsible for controlling hours of business, signage standards, visitor and guest parking, carport area appearances, etc.

(4) Storage of hazardous materials necessary for work activities within a live/work unit may be stored in controlled areas per the California Building Code and the West Covina Fire Department.

(5) The work portion of the unit shall be used by the owner or renter of the residential portion of the unit.

(6) Live/work units are single-tenant spaces that include both residential and commercial/office uses within a single unit, including a business to be conducted solely by the resident. In no instance shall the work portion of the live/work unit be sub-leased.

(7) Noise levels generated by live/workspaces shall conform to the City of West Covina Noise Ordinance.

(Ord. No. 2519, § 5(Exh. A), 2-20-24)