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Santa Clara County · Building on your lot

Running a business from home in Santa Clara County

A general home business is done in the home by residents, with at most 1 nonresident employee (county rule).

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Key points

  • Home businesses: A general home business is done in the home by residents, with at most 1 nonresident employee (county rule).

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

What Santa Clara County's code says

Santa Clara County code What Santa Clara County's code adds
Space used
  • No more than 1,200 square feet in total.
    Applies: Expanded home occupations in accessory buildings, on lots of at least 1 acre gross.
    § 4.10.180 · code text
    Accessory buildings containing expanded home occupation uses shall be limited in area to not more than 1,200 square feet (total).
Customer visits
  • Normally no more than 3 client visits per day and 10 per week.
    Applies: General and expanded home occupations.
    § 4.10.180 · code text
    Client or customer visits to the site shall normally be limited to not more than three (3) per day, and 10 per week;
Employees
  • 1 nonresident employee.
    Applies: General home occupations; the work is done in the home by the people who live there.
    § 4.10.180 · code text
    The use shall be conducted within the dwelling by resident occupants, and may include one (1) nonresident employee;
  • 1 nonresident employee, up to full-time.
    Applies: Expanded home occupations, on lots of at least 1 acre gross.
    § 4.10.180 · code text
    The use shall be conducted within the dwelling or accessory building by resident inhabitants, and may include one (1) nonresident (up to full-time) employee;
Permit
  • Optional: a written zoning administrator decision, with a questionnaire and filing fee.
    Applies: For a person who wants an official decision on whether a use is a general home occupation.
    § 4.10.180 · code text
    Such interpretation shall require completing a home occupation questionnaire, and submitting such questionnaire to the planning office along with a filing fee as required by the Board of Supervisors;
Businesses not allowed
  • on-site automotive repair or service; commercial food preparation other than a cottage food operation; medical or veterinary services; massage; painting of vehicles, trailers, boats or machinery; pest control; any use which violates any applicable law
    Applies: General and expanded home occupations
    § 4.10.180 · code text
    Uses which include the following shall not be allowed as home occupations:

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

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

A general home business is done in the home by residents, with at most 1 nonresident employee (county rule).

General information, not legal advice.

Ask about a specific Santa Clara County property

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Santa Clara County Municipal Code — full text