Running a business from home in Santa Ana: the local rules

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

What Santa Ana's code says

Santa Ana code What Santa Ana's code adds
Space used	No more than 1 room or 400 square feet of the home, whichever is more restrictive. § 41-192.2 · code text Home occupation activities shall not involve the use of more than one (1) room or four hundred (400) square feet of a dwelling, whichever is more restrictive,
Customer visits	No frequent meetings or gatherings that cause traffic, parking, noise or disturbance beyond normal home use. § 41-192.2 · code text There shall be no activity which involves frequent meetings or gatherings of any kind such as may generate traffic and parking congestion, noise, or disturbances beyond that which is normal to residential use.
Employees	No more than 2 people in total working in the business. § 41-192.2 · code text No more than two (2) persons shall be engaged in the conduct of the home occupation.
Permit	A home occupation permit from the zoning administrator is required. § 41-192.3 · code text No person shall conduct a home occupation without having first obtained a home occupation permit from the zoning administrator.
Businesses not allowed	sales activity, either wholesale or retail, except mail order sales § 41-192.2 · code text There shall be no sales activity, either wholesale or retail, except mail order sales. photo studios, bail bond uses, or check cashing facilities Applies: uses involving frequent meetings or gatherings that may generate traffic, parking congestion, noise, or disturbances beyond normal residential use § 41-192.2 · code text Such uses include but are not limited to photo studios, bail bond uses, or check cashing facilities.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Can I run a business from my home in Santa Ana?

A home business may use 1 room or 400 square feet, whichever is more restrictive, with at most 2 people in total (city rule).

Running a business from home in Santa Ana

Key points

What Santa Ana's code says

Who this affects

Frequently asked questions

Ask about a specific Santa Ana property

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