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Goleta · Building on your lot

Running a business from home in Goleta

Goleta home businesses may use at most 25% of the floor area and 1 nonresident employee; serving clients on site needs a Zoning Clearance.

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Key points

  • Home businesses: Goleta home businesses may use at most 25% of the floor area and 1 nonresident employee; serving clients on site needs a Zoning Clearance.

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

What Goleta's code says

Goleta code What Goleta's code adds
Space used
  • At most 25% of the combined floor area of the home, accessory structures and garage space not used for parking.
    Applies: Counts all space used only for the business, including storage.
    § 17.41.170 · code text
    The space exclusively devoted to the home occupation (including any associated storage) must not exceed 25 percent of the combined floor area of the dwelling unit, accessory structure(s), and available garage not used for parking.
Customer visits
  • Customer and client visits are allowed, but traffic may not exceed what is normal for the zone.
    § 17.41.170 · code text
    Customer and client visits are permitted; however, the home occupation shall not generate pedestrian or vehicular traffic in excess of that customarily associated with the zone district in which the use is located.
Employees
  • 1 employee or independent contractor who does not live in the home.
    § 17.41.170 · 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.
    Applies: When clients or customers are served on site.
    § 17.41.170 · code text
    A Zoning Clearance is required for home occupations where clients or customers are served on site.
  • No permit is required.
    Applies: Only when no clients or customers are served on site.
    § 17.41.170 · code text
    If no clients or customers are served on site, no permit is required.
Businesses not allowed
  • Adult-oriented businesses; Automobile/vehicle sales and services; Eating and drinking establishments; Hotels and motels; Hospitals; Fire arms manufacturing and on-site sales; Cannabis uses
    § 17.41.170 · code text
    The following uses are not permitted as home occupations:

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Can I run a business from my home in Goleta?

Goleta home businesses may use at most 25% of the floor area and 1 nonresident employee; serving clients on site needs a Zoning Clearance.

General information, not legal advice.

Ask about a specific Goleta property

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