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Running a business from home in Alturas

Alturas home businesses need a business license and may have up to 2 employees on site; group lessons are limited to 6 students.

Key points

  • Home business: Alturas home businesses need a business license and may have up to 2 employees on site; group lessons are limited to 6 students.

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

What Alturas's code says

Alturas code What Alturas's code adds
Customer visits
  • No more than 6 students per group lesson at a time, once per day.
    Applies: Group lessons by appointment only, on parcels smaller than 1 acre.
    § 28.38.070 · code text
    Group lessons shall be limited to a maximum of six students per group lesson at any one time, once per day, on parcels less than one acre, or twice per day on parcels one acre or greater, provided adequate parking is available.
  • No more than 6 students per group lesson at a time, twice per day.
    Applies: Group lessons by appointment only, on parcels of 1 acre or more, if there is enough parking.
    § 28.38.070 · code text
    Group lessons shall be limited to a maximum of six students per group lesson at any one time, once per day, on parcels less than one acre, or twice per day on parcels one acre or greater, provided adequate parking is available.
  • No more than 40 attendees.
    Applies: Student concerts, recitals, performances and showings on site, held between 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., no more than 4 times per year.
    § 28.38.070 · code text
    Student concerts, recitals, performance events, and showings are permitted on site if they are limited to forty attendees, are held between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., are held no more often than four times per year.
Employees
  • Up to 2 full-time or part-time employees can work on site.
    Applies: Only employees on the owner's direct payroll and supervision, and only if a Change of Use is processed with the Building Department.
    § 28.38.070 · code text
    In addition, up to two full or part-time employees, under the direct payroll and supervision of the business owner, shall be allowed to work on site if a "Change of Use" is processed with the Building Department pursuant to Building Code Section 1101B.6 (Commercial Facilities Located in Private Residences).
Permit
  • A city Business License is required.
    § 28.38.070 · code text
    As with all businesses in the City, a Business License is required to operate a business out of the home.
  • Allowed by right, with no special permit, unless stated otherwise.
    Applies: In all Residential and Agricultural Zones, when the business meets the listed standards.
    § 28.38.070 · code text
    Home Occupations shall be allowed by right, unless otherwise indicated below, in all Residential and Agricultural Zones if they are in compliance with the following standards:
  • An Administrative Permit is required.
    Applies: When equipment or processes make noise, vibration, dust, glare, fumes, odors or electrical interference that can be noticed off the property.
    § 28.38.070 · code text
    As part of the Home Occupation, no equipment or process shall be used that create noise, vibration, dust, glare, fumes, odors, or electrical interference detectable to the normal senses off-site unless an Administrative Permit is issued pursuant to Subsection D (below).
  • An Administrative Permit is required.
    Applies: Animal boarding for up to 6 dogs, 8 cats, or 20 small animals, not counting the owner's own animals.
    § 28.38.070 · code text
    All animal boarding requires the approval of an Administrative Permit (for up to 6 dogs or 8 cats of any size and age, or up to 20 Small Animals, exclusive of the animals owned by the business owner), or a Use Permit processed pursuant to Subsection D or E below.
  • A Use Permit is required, as the other option to an Administrative Permit.
    Applies: Animal boarding.
    § 28.38.070 · code text
    All animal boarding requires the approval of an Administrative Permit (for up to 6 dogs or 8 cats of any size and age, or up to 20 Small Animals, exclusive of the animals owned by the business owner), or a Use Permit processed pursuant to Subsection D or E below.

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

Can I run a business from my home in Alturas?

Alturas home businesses need a business license and may have up to 2 employees on site; group lessons are limited to 6 students.

General information, not legal advice.

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