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Fairfield · Building on your lot

Running a business from home in Fairfield

Fairfield keeps home businesses inside the home, with resident workers only and up to 8 patron visits a day.

Key points

  • Home businesses: Fairfield keeps home businesses inside the home, with resident workers only and up to 8 patron visits a day.

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

What Fairfield's code says

Fairfield code What Fairfield's code adds
Space used
  • Must be run entirely inside the main home.
    § 25.20.4.5 · code text
    The home occupation shall be conducted entirely within the principal dwelling.
Customer visits
  • Up to 8 customer visits per day.
    Applies: Only between 7:00 AM and 7:00 PM.
    § 25.20.4.5 · code text
    Up to eight patron visits per day shall be permitted between the hours of 7:00 AM and 7:00 PM.
Employees
  • No employees. Only household residents may work in the business at the home.
    § 25.20.4.5 · code text
    No persons, other than residents of the household for which the permit has been issued, shall engage in the home occupation at the home.
Permit
  • A Home Occupation Permit, issued together with a Business License.
    § 25.20.4.5 · code text
    No person shall conduct a home occupation without a Home Occupation Permit (concurrent with a Business License, as required in Chapter 10b of the City Code).
Businesses not allowed
  • Use of equipment or machinery not customarily incidental to domestic use
    § 25.20.4.5 · code text
    Use of equipment or machinery that is not customarily incidental to domestic use (e.g., cement mixers, tractors, and paint booths).
  • Equipment, machinery, or processes creating offensive noise, smoke, glare, fumes, odor, or vibration
    § 25.20.4.5 · code text
    Equipment, machinery, or processes that create noise, smoke, glare, fumes, odor or vibration (e.g., assembly requiring power tools, carpentry) offensive to a reasonable person at the property line.
  • Activities or equipment or materials that change the fire safety or occupancy classification
    § 25.20.4.5 · code text
    Uses that involve activities or use of equipment or materials on more than an intermittent basis so as to change the fire safety or occupancy classification of the premises (e.g., welding).
  • Activities causing electromagnetic interference
    § 25.20.4.5 · code text
    Activities that cause electromagnetic (e.g. radio, television, etc.) interference to surrounding properties.
  • Use or storage of chemicals or processes not customarily associated with domestic use
    § 25.20.4.5 · code text
    Use or storage of chemicals or processes that are not customarily associated with domestic use.
  • Repair of motor vehicles
    § 25.20.4.5 · code text
    Repair of motor vehicles.
  • Escort services
    § 25.20.4.5 · code text
    Escort services, meaning a person who, for a fee, commission, hire, reward or profit, accompanies other persons to or about social affairs, entertainments or places of amusement or consorts with others about any place of public resort or within any private quarters.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Can I run a business from my home in Fairfield?

Fairfield keeps home businesses inside the home, with resident workers only and up to 8 patron visits a day.

General information, not legal advice.

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