Pleasanton City Zoning Code
CHAPTER 18
104 HOME OCCUPATIONS
§ 18.104.010 Purpose.
In order to allow the conduct of those types of occupations which traditionally take place in residences and which do not create the potential for changing the residential character of the neighborhood, the zoning administrator is empowered to grant home occupation permits. Home occupation permits can be granted by the zoning administrator only where all conditions listed in Section 18.104.030 of this chapter can be met. However, the planning commission, on appeal, can modify the conditions if it finds that such modifications will not be detrimental to the public health, safety or welfare or materially injurious to properties or improvements in the vicinity.
(Prior code § 2-10.15)
§ 18.104.020 Exempt occupations.
Where the following regulations are met, no permit shall be required for the conduct of an occupation in the home:
A.
No one other than one resident of the dwelling shall be employed in the conduct of the home occupation.
B.
The home occupation shall consist of office-type activities only (phone use, bookkeeping, drafting, etc.) and the production of minor arts and crafts items such as macramé, painting, tole painting, etc., if the proper safety equipment is provided.
C.
No clients or customers shall come to the premises in connection with the home occupation.
D.
The home occupation shall be conducted only in the dwelling and shall be clearly incidental and subordinate to the use of the structure as a dwelling.
E.
There shall be no signing employed on the premises in conjunction with the home occupation.
F.
The existence of the home occupation shall not be apparent beyond the boundaries of the site.
G.
The residence address shall not be used in any advertising done in conjunction with the home occupation.
H.
Materials, stock, supplies or equipment shall not be delivered to or picked up from the residence in connection with a home occupation except by the permittee.
I.
Equipment, materials and supplies used for the home occupation shall consist of office-type items (typewriter, desk, files, etc.) and those used in the production of minor arts and crafts items (yarn, hemp, watercolors, oil paints, etc.) and shall not occupy more than one room of the dwelling.
J.
The home occupation shall not create pedestrian or vehicular traffic in excess of the amount normally generated by residential uses allowed in the district.
(Prior code § 2-10.16)
§ 18.104.030 Required conditions.
Except as stipulated in Section 18.104.070 of this chapter, home occupations in A and R districts shall comply with the following regulations:
A.
No one other than residents of the dwelling shall be employed in the conduct of a home occupation.
B.
Materials, equipment, stock or supplies used for a home occupation shall not occupy more than one room of a dwelling or more than 50 square feet of an accessory building or garage.
C.
Nothing in connection with a home occupation shall inhibit the use of a garage for the storage of motor vehicles.
D.
No manufacturing shall take place in conjunction with a home occupation except for the production of handmade objects otherwise consistent with the conditions of this chapter.
E.
The home occupation shall be clearly incidental and subordinate to the use of the structure as a dwelling.
F.
A home occupation shall not create any radio or television interference, or create noise in excess of that normally created by residential uses allowed in the district.
G.
A home occupation shall not emit smoke, odor or liquid or solid waste in excess of the amount normally created by residential uses allowed in the district.
H.
A home occupation shall not create pedestrian or vehicular traffic in excess of the amount normally generated by residential uses allowed in the district.
I.
Materials, stock, supplies or equipment shall not be delivered to or picked up from the residence in connection with a home occupation except by the permittee.
J.
No vehicle exceeding one ton in size shall be used in conjunction with a home occupation.
K.
Except as stipulated in Section 18.96.040 of this title, no signing shall be employed on the site in conjunction with a home occupation.
L.
The existence of a home occupation shall not be visually apparent beyond the boundaries of the site.
(Prior code § 2-10.17; Ord. 1738 § 1, 1998)
§ 18.104.040 Prohibited home occupations.
A.
Gunsmiths.
B.
Firearm sales, provided, however, that federally licensed firearm dealers with home occupation permits approved prior to the effective date hereof shall be given one year from the effective date hereof to comply with the ordinance codified in this chapter.
(Ord. 1738 § 1, 1998)
§ 18.104.050 Zoning certificate required.
Application for a zoning certificate for a home occupation shall be made to the zoning administrator on a form supplied by the city. The zoning administrator shall issue a certificate upon determining that the proposed home occupation meets all of the requirements of this chapter.
(Prior code § 2-10.18; Ord. 1738 § 1, 1998)
§ 18.104.060 Appeals.
Decisions of the Zoning Administrator are final unless appealed to the Planning Commission under the provisions of Chapter 18. 144.
(Prior code § 2-10.19; Ord. 1738 § 1, 1998; Ord. 2303, 12/16/2025)
§ 18.104.070 Modification of required conditions.
The planning commission may approve or deny an appeal and in approving an application, may impose additional conditions or may modify any of the conditions required in Section 18.104.030 of this chapter if it determines that such additional conditions or modifications will not be detrimental to the public health, safety or welfare, or materially injurious to properties or improvements in the vicinity.
(Prior code § 2-10.20; Ord. 1738 § 1, 1998)
§ 18.104.080 Suspension and revocation.
Upon violation of any applicable provision of this chapter, or, if granted subject to conditions, upon failure to comply with conditions, a home occupation permit shall be suspended automatically. The Planning Commission shall hold a public hearing within 40 days, and if not satisfied that the regulation, general provision, or condition is being complied with, may revoke the home occupation permit or take such action as may be necessary to ensure compliance with the regulation, general provision, or condition. The decision of the Planning Commission shall be effective pursuant to the procedures outlined in Chapter 18.144 unless otherwise appealed.
(Prior code § 2-10.21; Ord. 1738 § 1, 1998; Ord. 2303, 12/16/2025)
