Running a business from home in Sunnyvale: the local rules

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

What Sunnyvale's code says

Sunnyvale code What Sunnyvale's code adds
Space used	No more than 20% of the home's floor area or 400 square feet, whichever is less. Includes storage. § 19.42.010 · code text No more than twenty percent of the floor area within the dwelling unit or four hundred square feet, whichever is less, shall be devoted to the business (including storage described in subsection (h));
Customer visits	No more than 3 vehicles per day. Applies: Counts customer, vendor and delivery vehicles; the business must not disrupt neighborhood traffic. § 19.42.010 · code text The business shall not generate vehicular traffic which will interfere with residential traffic circulation or shall not cause more than three vehicles including vehicles used by customers, vendors or delivery services to visit the premises per day;
Employees	Only residents of the home can work or report to work there. § 19.42.010 · code text No persons other than residents of the dwelling shall work or report to work on the premises;
Permit	A business license is required. § 19.42.010 · code text Home occupations may be conducted in any zoning district with a business license, provided the director of community development has determined that the proposed use shall comply with the following restrictions:
Businesses not allowed	Selling merchandise, products, or tangible things on the premises § 19.42.010 · code text No merchandise, product, or tangible thing shall be sold on the premises;

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Can I run a business from my home in Sunnyvale?

Sunnyvale limits a home business to 20% of the home or 400 square feet, whichever is less, and 3 vehicles a day.

Running a business from home in Sunnyvale

Key points

What Sunnyvale's code says

Who this affects

Frequently asked questions

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