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Porterville · Building on your lot

Running a business from home in Porterville

Home occupations need zoning conformance approval and may have at most 6 patrons a day, with no employees who live elsewhere.

Key points

  • Home businesses: Home occupations need zoning conformance approval and may have at most 6 patrons a day, with no employees who live elsewhere.

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

What Porterville's code says

Porterville code What Porterville's code adds
Customer visits
  • No more than 6 patrons or customers per calendar day.
    § 301.09 · code text
    The home occupation shall not attract or generate excessive auto or foot traffic, require additional off-street parking spaces, involve the use of commercial vehicles for delivery of materials or supplies to or from the premises, or exceed six (6) patrons or customers for any calendar day.
  • Clients may not come to the home to use the mobile unit.
    Applies: Mobile service businesses that serve clients at the client's location.
    § 301.09 · code text
    A client may not come to the home of the business to use the mobile unit.
Employees
  • No one who does not live on the premises may be employed there.
    Applies: At the home business site.
    § 301.09 · code text
    No person not residing on the premises may be employed at the site of the home occupation.
Permit
  • Zoning conformance approval is required.
    § 301.09 · code text
    Home occupations are subject to zoning conformance approval pursuant to Chapter 602, “Zoning Conformance Review”.
  • A business license and a home occupation permit are required.
    Applies: More than 2 but no more than 4 yard sales per year.
    § 301.09 · code text
    More than two yard sales per year, but not more than four yard sales per year, may be permitted subject to issuance of a business license and a home occupation permit subject to the following standards:
Businesses not allowed
  • The repair, reconditioning, servicing or manufacture of any internal combustion or diesel engine or of any motor vehicle, including automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, or boats
    § 301.09 · code text
    The repair, reconditioning, servicing or manufacture of any internal combustion or diesel engine or of any motor vehicle, including automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, or boats.
  • Repair, fix-it or plumbing, welding or fabrication shops where the trade-work is done at the site of the home occupation
    § 301.09 · code text
    Repair, fix-it or plumbing, welding or fabrication shops where the trade-work is done at the site of the home occupation.
  • Uses that entail the harboring, training, raising, or grooming of dogs, cats or other animals on the premises
    § 301.09 · code text
    Uses that entail the harboring, training, raising, or grooming of dogs, cats or other animals on the premises.
  • Uses that entail food handling, processing or packing, other than those permitted by cottage food operation
    § 301.09 · code text
    Uses that entail food handling, processing or packing, other than those permitted by cottage food operation.
  • Healing arts
    § 301.09 · code text
    Healing arts.
  • Spiritual advisory service (fortune-telling)
    § 301.09 · code text
    Spiritual advisory service (fortune-telling).

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Can I run a business from my home in Porterville?

Home occupations need zoning conformance approval and may have at most 6 patrons a day, with no employees who live elsewhere.

General information, not legal advice.

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