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Monterey County · Building on your lot

Running a business from home in Monterey County

County rule: home businesses may involve only the resident and immediate family living on site; cottage food may add 1 employee.

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Key points

  • Home businesses: County rule: home businesses may involve only the resident and immediate family living on site; cottage food may add 1 employee.

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

What Monterey County's code says

Monterey County code What Monterey County's code adds
Employees
  • Only the resident and immediate family living on site may work in the business.
    § 21.64.090 · code text
    No persons other than the resident and immediate family residing on site may be employed in the home occupation, except that a cottage food operation may allow up to one (1) full-time equivalent cottage food employee who does not reside on the site.
  • Up to 1 full-time equivalent employee who does not live on site.
    Applies: Cottage food operations.
    § 21.64.090 · code text
    No persons other than the resident and immediate family residing on site may be employed in the home occupation, except that a cottage food operation may allow up to one (1) full-time equivalent cottage food employee who does not reside on the site.
Permit
  • An Administrative Permit, only to change the home occupation standards.
    Applies: Needed to modify the standards; cottage food operations cannot get exceptions.
    § 21.64.090 · code text
    Modification to the provisions of Subsection 21.64.090.C. of this Chapter may be considered by an Administrative Permit, except in the case of a cottage food operation for which no exceptions to these requirements may be granted.
  • A Coastal Administrative Permit, only to change the home occupation standards.
    Applies: Needed to modify the standards; cottage food operations cannot get exceptions.
    § 20.64.090 · code text
    Modification to the application of the provisions of Section 20.64.090.C. of this chapter may be considered by a Coastal Administrative Permit, except in the case of a cottage food operation for which no exceptions to these requirements may be granted.

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

Can I run a business from my home in Monterey County?

County rule: home businesses may involve only the resident and immediate family living on site; cottage food may add 1 employee.

General information, not legal advice.

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