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Santa Maria City Zoning Code

CHAPTER 12

29 HOME OCCUPATIONS

Section 12-29.01 Intent.

This chapter is intended to provide for those uses customarily conducted entirely within a dwelling and carried on by the inhabitant thereof, which is clearly incidental to the use of the dwelling and does not change the character thereof or does not adversely affect the uses permitted in the zone of which it is a part.
(Prior Code § 10-88.1; Ord. 83-1065 § 1, eff. 1/5/84)

Section 12-29.02 Permitted.

Home occupations, in accordance with the regulations contained herein, are permitted in the residential zoning districts within the City.
(Prior Code § 10-88; Ord. 83-1065 § 1, eff. 1/5/84)

Section 12-29.02.1 Vehicle, vessel repair prohibited.

(a) 
It shall be unlawful to engage in vehicle or vessel repair, as defined in subsection (b), on residentially zoned property for compensation.
(b) 
The following definitions shall govern administration and enforcement of this law:
"Compensation"
means any and all consideration or amounts for labor performed, as defined in Civil Code Section 1605 and Labor Code Section 200, respectively, or their respective successor sections.
"Engage in vehicle or vessel repair"
means servicing, assembling, disassembling, wrecking, modifying, restoring, spray painting, or otherwise working on any vehicle or vessel on property a person occupies, or allowing the same to occur by a resident of property a person owns, manages or occupies.
"Residentially zoned"
means any property on which residential uses are permitted or conditional use under the Santa Maria Municipal Code.
"Vehicle"
means a self-propelled device by which any person or property may be propelled, moved, or drawn upon a highway but does not include devices moved exclusively by human power.
"Vessel"
includes every description of watercraft used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on water, but does not include the exceptions listed in Section 9840 of the California Vehicle Code, and any amendment thereto.
(Ord. 92-10 § 3, eff. 7/7/92)

Section 12-29.03 Applicability of requirements.

The requirements set out in this chapter apply to and are conditions of all home occupations within the City.
(Prior Code § 10-88.2; Ord. 83-1065 § 1, eff. 1/5/84)

Section 12-29.04 Statement acknowledging requirements.

Any business owner or operator operating in a residential zoning district shall sign and file a statement indicating his or her awareness of City regulations applicable to the operation of home occupations, and that owner/operator must also have a valid City business license.
(Prior Code § 10-88.2(a); Ord. 83-1065 § 1, eff. 1/5/84; Ord. 90-1 § 2, eff. 3/8/90)

Section 12-29.05 Employees.

There shall be no employees in connection with the home occupation, within the home, other than members of the resident family.
(Prior Code § 10-88.2(b); Ord. 83-1065 § 1, eff. 1/5/84)

Section 12-29.06 Traffic generation.

The use shall not generate pedestrian or vehicular traffic beyond that normal to the district or neighborhood in which it is located.
(Prior Code § 10-88.2(c); Ord. 83-1065 § 1, eff. 1/5/84)

Section 12-29.07 Customers, suppliers or employee visits.

There shall be no customers, suppliers or employees, clients or patients coming to the home in connection with the home occupation, except for the following:
(a) 
Music lessons as permitted by Section 12-6.04(g); and
(b) 
School readiness testing and counseling activities for one person at a time, when conducted solely by a resident of the home, as a secondary use, in compliance with all other requirements of this chapter and the Santa Maria Municipal Code.
(Prior Code § 10-88.2(d); Ord. 83-1065 § 1, eff. 1/5/84; Ord. 90-1 § 2, eff. 3/8/90; Ord. 94-16, eff. 8/18/94; Ord. 2005-04, eff. 5/19/05)

Section 12-29.08 Sale of products.

There shall be no sale of products on the premises.
(Prior Code § 10-88.2(e); Ord. 83-1065 § 1, eff. 1/5/84)

Section 12-29.09 Deliveries by commercial vehicle.

The use shall not involve the use of any commercial vehicle for the delivery of materials to or from the premises.
(Prior Code § 10-88.2(f); Ord. 83-1065 § 1, eff. 1/5/84)

Section 12-29.10 Vehicles generally.

Any vehicle used in connection with the home occupation shall comply with the provisions of Section 5-6.202(h) of this code.
(Prior Code § 10-88.2(g); Ord. 83-1065 § 1, eff. 1/5/84; Ord. 2016-01 § 2, eff. 2/19/16)

Section 12-29.11 Space used.

No more than one room in the dwelling shall be utilized for the home occupation. The garage must be kept clear for the parking of vehicles at all times, as required by Chapter 12-32 of this title. Accessory structures may not be used for the home occupation or for storage for the home occupation.
(Prior Code § 10-88.2(h); Ord. 83-1065 § 1, eff. 1/5/84; Ord. 90-1 § 2, eff. 3/8/90)

Section 12-29.12 Outdoor storage or display.

There shall be no outdoor storage or display in connection with any home occupation.
(Prior Code § 10-88.2(i); Ord. 83-1065 § 1, eff. 1/5/84)

Section 12-29.13 Appearance of residence.

In no way shall the appearance of the dwelling or accessory building be so altered or the conduct of the occupation within the dwelling be such that the dwelling or accessory building may be recognized as serving a nonresidential use (either by color, materials, construction, signs, lighting, sounds, vibration, etc.).
(Prior Code § 10-88.2(j); Ord. 83-1065 § 1, eff. 1/5/84)

Section 12-29.14 Signs.

No signs shall be displayed and there shall be no advertising using the home address, with the exception of necessary advertising in the telephone directory.
(Prior Code § 10-88.2(k); Ord. 83-1065 § 1, eff. 1/5/84)

Section 12-29.15 Utility and public facility use.

There shall be no use of utilities or community facilities beyond that normal to the use of the property for residential purposes as defined in the district.
(Prior Code § 10-88.2(l); Ord. 83-1065 § 1, eff. 1/5/84)