Running a business from home in Santa Barbara County

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

What Santa Barbara County's code says

Santa Barbara County code What Santa Barbara County's code adds
Space used	No more than 1 room of the home (garages not included), or entirely in an artist studio. Applies: Coastal Zoning Ordinance home businesses run in a home, other than cottage food operations. § 35-121 · code text The home occupation shall be conducted either entirely within not more than one room of the dwelling not including garages or entirely within an artist studio.
Customer visits	No more than 5 customers, clients, students or other people on the lot at one time. Applies: Coastal Zoning Ordinance; not cottage food operations. Permit-exempt in-home retail sales follow a separate rule. § 35-121 · code text There shall be no more than five customers, patients, clients, students, or other persons served by said home occupation upon the lot that contains the home occupation at any one time. No more than 5 customers, clients, students or other people on the lot at one time. Applies: Montecito code; not cottage food operations; except qualifying in-home retail events, up to 4 a year with at most 25 customers at once. § 35.442.130 · code text There shall be no more than five customers, patients, clients, students, or other persons served by the home occupation upon the lot that contains the home occupation at any one time except for in-home retail sales as allowed in compliance with Subsection E.1.a, below.
Employees	No employees on the lot other than the people who live in the home. Applies: Coastal Zoning Ordinance; not cottage food operations. Off-site employees or partners are allowed if they do not report to the lot. § 35-121 · code text No employees other than the dwelling occupant(s) shall be permitted for business purposes on the lot that contains the home occupation. Up to 1 full-time equivalent employee, besides the household members who live there. Applies: Montecito code; cottage food operations. § 35.442.130 · code text Up to one full-time equivalent employee as defined by California Health and Safety Code Section 113758(b)(1) may participate in a cottage food operation in addition to those individuals residing within the dwelling as their primary residence.
Permit	A Coastal Development Permit or a Land Use Permit. Applies: Coastal Zoning Ordinance areas; required before a home business starts in a home or artist studio, unless it qualifies for an exemption. § 35-121 · code text Before the commencement of a home occupation within a dwelling or artist studio, a Coastal Development Permit in compliance with Section 35-169 (Coastal Development Permits) or, where the Coastal Commission approves the Coastal Development Permit, a Land Use Permit in compliance with Section 35-178 (Land Use Permits) shall be issued for the home occupation unless the occupation qualifies for an exemption as stated in Section 35-121.5 (Exceptions to Permit Requirements for Home Occupations) below. A Zoning Clearance. Applies: Montecito code; before starting, unless exempt. Exempt businesses serve no customers except up to 4 retail events a year, at most 25 at once. § 35.442.130 · code text Before the commencement of a home occupation, a Zoning Clearance in compliance with Section 35.472.190 (Zoning Clearances) shall be issued for the home occupation unless the occupation qualifies for an exemption as stated in Subsection E (Exceptions to permit requirements for home occupations) below. A Zoning Clearance. Applies: County code areas; required before a home business starts, unless it qualifies for an exemption. § 35.42.190 · code text Before the commencement of a home occupation, a Zoning Clearance in compliance with Section 35.82.210 (Zoning Clearances) shall be issued for the home occupation unless the occupation qualifies for an exemption as stated in Subsection E (Exceptions to permit requirements for home occupations) below.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I run a business from my home in Santa Barbara County?

County rule: in Coastal and Montecito code areas, a home business may have at most 5 customers or clients at one time.

Running a business from home in Santa Barbara County

Key points

What Santa Barbara County's code says

Who this affects

Frequently asked questions

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