Fresno · Building on your lot

Running a business from home in Fresno

Fresno home businesses may use at most 25% of the floor area and 1 nonresident employee; only personal instruction may have client visits.

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Key points

Home businesses: Fresno home businesses may use at most 25% of the floor area and 1 nonresident employee; only personal instruction may have client visits.

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

What Fresno's code says

Fresno code What Fresno's code adds
Space used	The business may use no more than 25% of the home's floor area. Applies: Counts all space used only for the business, including storage. § 15-2735 · code text The space exclusively devoted to the home occupation (including any associated storage) shall not exceed 25 percent of the residential unit floor area.
Customer visits	No customer or client visits, except for personal instruction such as music lessons, art lessons or tutoring. § 15-2735 · code text No customer or client visits are permitted except for personal instruction services (e.g., musical instruction or training, art lessons, academic tutoring). No more than 8 clients or students per day. Applies: Personal instruction only, such as music lessons or tutoring, with no more than 3 at one time. Other home businesses may have no visits. § 15-2735 · code text A total of eight clients and/or students per day may be permitted, however there may be no more than three clients/students at any one time. No more than 3 clients or students at any one time. Applies: Personal instruction services. § 15-2735 · code text A total of eight clients and/or students per day may be permitted, however there may be no more than three clients/students at any one time.
Employees	Only 1 employee or independent contractor who does not live in the home may work there. § 15-2735 · code text One employee or independent contractor other than residents of the dwelling may be permitted to work at the location of a home occupation.
Permit	A Zoning Clearance is required for each home business. § 15-2735 · code text A Zoning Clearance is required for each home occupation, pursuant to the provisions of Article 51, Zone Clearance.
Businesses not allowed	Display or sale of products or merchandise from the site, except by mail, telephone, Internet, or other mode of electronic communication, unless permitted per Cottage Food Preparation Applies: home occupations involving the display or sale of products or merchandise § 15-2735 · code text Home occupations involving the display or sale of products or merchandise are not permitted from the site except by mail, telephone, Internet, or other mode of electronic communication, unless permitted per Cottage Food Preparation as detailed below. Commercial kitchens § 15-2735 · code text Commercial kitchens are prohibited.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Can I run a business from my home in Fresno?

Fresno home businesses may use at most 25% of the floor area and 1 nonresident employee; only personal instruction may have client visits.

General information, not legal advice.

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Fresno Municipal Code — full text