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Cotati · Building on your lot

Running a business from home in Cotati

Home businesses: at most 25% of gross floor area, 12 visitor vehicle trips a day, 1 client or family at a time.

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Key points

  • Home businesses: Home businesses: at most 25% of gross floor area, 12 visitor vehicle trips a day, 1 client or family at a time.

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

What Cotati's code says

Cotati code What Cotati's code adds
Space used
  • No more than 25% of the home's gross floor area.
    Applies: Business activity inside the main home. A permitted enclosed accessory structure may be used instead.
    § 17.42.080 · code text
    All home occupation activities shall take place either inside the primary dwelling, occupying no more than 25% of the gross floor area of the dwelling, or in a permitted enclosed accessory structure.
Customer visits
  • No more than 12 vehicle trips per day.
    Applies: Trips by clients, customers or visitors to the home.
    § 17.42.080 · code text
    The home occupation shall be operated so as to not require more than 12 vehicle trips per day of clients, customers, and/or visitors to the residence.
  • Only 1 client or family at a time.
    Applies: Clients or customers present at the home.
    § 17.42.080 · code text
    On-site presence of clients or customers shall be limited to one client or family at a time, and only between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.
  • Only from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
    Applies: Clients or customers present at the home.
    § 17.42.080 · code text
    On-site presence of clients or customers shall be limited to one client or family at a time, and only between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Employees
  • No on-site employees other than full-time residents of the home.
    § 17.42.080 · code text
    A home occupation shall have no on-site employees other than full-time residents of the dwelling.
Permit
  • A city business license is required.
    § 17.42.080 · code text
    A home occupation shall require a city business license.
Businesses not allowed
  • Adult entertainment activities/businesses; animal hospitals and boarding facilities; auto and other vehicle sales, repair and service (body or mechanical), painting, storage, or upholstery, or the repair, reconditioning, servicing, or manufacture of any vehicle engine or motor vehicle, including automobiles, boats, motorcycles, or trucks; commercial cabinet or furniture making, and similar uses; contractor's and other storage yards; dismantling, junk, or scrap yards; fitness/health facilities except those allowed; medical clinics and laboratories; on-site sales, except mail order businesses where there is no stock-in-trade on the site; personal services except those allowed; transportation services; uses which require explosives or highly combustible or toxic materials; welding and machine shop operations; wood cutting businesses; other uses the director determines to be similar
    § 17.42.080 · code text
    2. Uses Prohibited as Home Occupations. The following are examples of business activities that are not incidental to or compatible with residential activities, and are, therefore, prohibited as home occupations:

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Can I run a business from my home in Cotati?

Home businesses: at most 25% of gross floor area, 12 visitor vehicle trips a day, 1 client or family at a time.

General information, not legal advice.

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Cotati Municipal Code — full text