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Rancho Santa Margarita · Building on your lot

Running a business from home in Rancho Santa Margarita

A home business may use at most 2 rooms or 20% of the home, whichever is less, with at most 1 non-resident employee.

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Key points

  • Home businesses: A home business may use at most 2 rooms or 20% of the home, whichever is less, with at most 1 non-resident employee.

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

What Rancho Santa Margarita's code says

Rancho Santa Margarita code What Rancho Santa Margarita's code adds
Space used
  • No more than 2 rooms or 20% of the home, whichever is less.
    § 9.05.060 · code text
    No more than two rooms in the dwelling or 20 percent of the residence, whichever is less, shall be employed for the use of the home occupation.
Employees
  • No more than 1 employee who does not live on the site may work on the premises.
    § 9.05.060 · code text
    There shall be no more than one employee, who is not a resident of the site where the home occupation is established, working on the premises.
Permit
  • Allowed as an accessory use to a home.
    Applies: Any residential zoning district.
    § 9.05.060 · code text
    Home occupations are permitted when conducted as an accessory use to a residential use in any residential zoning district.
Businesses not allowed
  • wholesale and retail sales of automobiles
    § 9.05.060 · code text
    Wholesale and retail sales of automobiles is not permitted.
  • dating services
    § 9.05.060 · code text
    Dating services are not permitted.
  • fortunetelling, palm reading, psychics, and similar activities
    § 9.05.060 · code text
    Fortunetelling, palm reading, psychics, and similar activities are not permitted.
  • massage services
    § 9.05.060 · code text
    Massage services are not permitted.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Can I run a business from my home in Rancho Santa Margarita?

A home business may use at most 2 rooms or 20% of the home, whichever is less, with at most 1 non-resident employee.

General information, not legal advice.

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Rancho Santa Margarita Municipal Code — full text