Home Occupation Permit

WHAT QUALIFIES FOR A HOME OCCUPATION-

If you wish to conduct a business from your home within the City of San Ramon, you must file for a Home Occupation Permit and City Business License. In order to be eligible for a Home Occupation Permit, you must be able to comply with the following:

1. No clients will visit the residence.
   
    

2. The use is incidental to the residential use of the dwelling.
   
    

3. The use is conducted within a portion of the main building, not within any required parking facility and does not exceed twenty percent (20%) of the building's square footage. No outside storage shall be permitted.
   
    

4. No article shall be sold or offered for sale on the premise.
   
    

5. No person other than the resident of the dwelling shall be employed on- site or report to work at the site in the conduct of the home occupation. This prohibition also applies to independent contractors.
   
   

6. The use will not generate vehicular or pedestrian traffic in excess of that which is normally associated with the residential use in the same district.
   
   

7. No parking space shall be obstructed and no additional parking space will be required for the home occupation.
   
   

8. There is no exterior indication of the home occupation, including signs.
   
   

9. The use will not create noise, odor, dust, fumes, vibration, smoke, electrical interference, or any interference with residential uses in the same district.
   
   

10. No motor vehicle repair or personal services shall be permitted on-site.
    
    

11. The address of the home occupation will not be advertised in any publication. Business cards and letterhead are not included in this requirement.

EXAMPLES OF HOME OCCUPATIONS ALLOWED

Examples of typical businesses which would be allowed by Home Occupation Permits might include typing or drafting services, and consulting businesses, provided all work is picked up and delivered to the client by you; landscape maintenance, janitorial services, and contractor businesses, where the business is conducted elsewhere and all equipment is either stored off-site and/or in a vehicle which is to be stored in the garage at the residence. Businesses such as jewelry making are allowed if the jewelry is sold off-site (i.e. flea market, retail store, etc.). Home boutiques are not allowed. Home Occupations also include those businesses in which only a telephone and mail services are used. Additionally, all business licenses must be issued to physical addresses only; a P.O. Box may be used, however, it may not be use as a substitution for a physical business address in order to bypass the Home Occupation Permit process.

For more information, click on the following related links:

• Steps Involved in Obtaining a Home Occupation Permit
• Obtaining a Business License
• Approved HOP Applications

planning@sanramon.ca.gov
2226 Camino Ramon, San Ramon, CA  94583
Phone: (925) 973-2560
Fax: (925) 806-0118