Running a business from home in Alameda County

Each rule below links to the section of the Alameda County Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Alameda County's code says

Alameda County code What Alameda County's code adds
Space used	The business can use no more than one-fourth of the home's floor area in total. Applies: Home occupations in any R or A district. § 17.52.210 · code text Any use of the front yard or side yard for construction or repair or dismantling or the use in the aggregate of an area greater than one-fourth of the area of the dwelling unit;
Employees	No outside help in the home or on the property, except domestic servants. Applies: Home occupations in any R or A district. § 17.52.210 · code text The employment of outside help in the dwelling or on the premises, other than domestic servants;
Businesses not allowed	maintenance on the premises for sale or rental of any stock of goods which are not homemade Applies: home occupations in any R or A district § 17.52.210 · code text Maintenance on the premises for sale or rental of any stock of goods, which are not homemade; massage establishment Applies: home occupations in any R or A district § 17.52.210 · code text The conduct of: a) massage establishment, b) barber shop, c) beauty shop, or d) real estate office; barber shop Applies: home occupations in any R or A district § 17.52.210 · code text The conduct of: a) massage establishment, b) barber shop, c) beauty shop, or d) real estate office; beauty shop Applies: home occupations in any R or A district § 17.52.210 · code text The conduct of: a) massage establishment, b) barber shop, c) beauty shop, or d) real estate office; real estate office Applies: home occupations in any R or A district § 17.52.210 · code text The conduct of: a) massage establishment, b) barber shop, c) beauty shop, or d) real estate office; raising animals, bees or birds for sale Applies: home occupations in any R or A district § 17.52.210 · code text The raising for sale of animals, bees or birds; or teaching dancing, music or swimming to an assembled class of more than two pupils Applies: home occupations in any R or A district § 17.52.210 · code text The teaching of dancing, music or swimming to an assembled class of more than two pupils; repair, servicing, painting or dismantling of motor vehicles or household appliances Applies: home occupations in any R or A district § 17.52.210 · code text The repair, servicing, painting or dismantling of motor vehicles or of electrical refrigerators, washers, dryers, or other household appliances; renting rooms and providing table board for more than four persons (more than five persons if licensed by the State Department of Mental Health) Applies: home occupations in any R or A district § 17.52.210 · code text The renting of rooms and the providing of table board for more than four persons, or if licensed by the State Department of Mental Health for more than five persons; day care for more than six children Applies: home occupations in any R or A district § 17.52.210 · code text The provision of day care for more than six children.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Can I run a business from my home in Alameda County?

County home occupations may use at most 1/4 of the dwelling unit; barber shops, beauty shops, real estate offices and massage are not allowed.

Running a business from home in Alameda County

Key points

What Alameda County's code says

Who this affects

Frequently asked questions

Ask about a specific Alameda County property

More on building on your lot in Alameda County