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Running a business from home in Indian Wells

Indian Wells home businesses may use 25% of the main dwelling and at most 1 room; only occupants may work there.

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Key points

  • Home businesses: Indian Wells home businesses may use 25% of the main dwelling and at most 1 room; only occupants may work there.

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

What Indian Wells's code says

Indian Wells code What Indian Wells's code adds
Space used
  • No more than 25% of the main home's floor area, and no more than 1 room.
    Applies: Use of the home for the business.
    § 5.01.060 · code text
    Not more than 25% of the floor area of the main dwelling unit, nor more than one room of the main dwelling shall be used in the conduct of the home occupation.
Employees
  • Only the people who live in the home may work on the premises.
    Applies: Work done on the premises for the home business.
    § 5.01.060 · code text
    Only the occupants of the dwelling unit may perform work on the premises in the home occupation.
Permit
  • A city business license is required.
    Applies: Before starting a home business.
    § 5.01.060 · code text
    No home occupation may be conducted without having first obtained a City business license.
Businesses not allowed
  • Adult entertainment activities/business; animal grooming, raising or training of any animals; automotive and other vehicle repair, painting, storage, or upholstery; commercial cabinet or furniture making business (not woodworking as a hobby); construction storage yard; dance club/night club; exercise studios; fortunetelling; mini-storage; plant nursery; repair, reconditioning, servicing or manufacture of internal combustion or diesel engines or motor vehicles; retail sales; sale of home furnishing materials such as carpeting, floor covering and tile; welding and machine shop operations; uses requiring explosive or highly combustible or toxic materials; other uses the Planning Director determines to be similar
    Applies: commercial uses not compatible with residential properties
    § 5.01.060 · code text
    The following list represents an example of commercial uses that are not compatible with residential activities and therefore are prohibited as a home occupation:

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Can I run a business from my home in Indian Wells?

Indian Wells home businesses may use 25% of the main dwelling and at most 1 room; only occupants may work there.

General information, not legal advice.

Ask about a specific Indian Wells property

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Indian Wells Municipal Code — full text