Home Business Rules in San Francisco, CA (2026)

In San Francisco, CA, home-based businesses are permitted subject to specific rules designed to preserve residential character while allowing residents to run legitimate businesses from their homes. A Home Occupation Permit is required before operating. The San Francisco Department of Building Inspection (DBI) or San Francisco Planning Department handles home occupation applications and enforcement. Regulations generally prohibit on-site employees, customer visits, and any external evidence of business activity. Below you will find the current permit requirements, restrictions, prohibited business types, and cottage food law provisions for San Francisco.

Permit Requirements

Permit Required: Home Occupation Permit. Fee: $148. Apply through the San Francisco Department of Building Inspection (DBI) or online at their permit portal. Phone: (415) 558-6088. Permits typically must be renewed annually. Operating without a required home occupation permit can result in fines and a requirement to cease business activity immediately.

Operating Restrictions

Home Business Restrictions in San Francisco: 1. No customers or clients may visit the home for business purposes 2. No employees other than residents may work at the home address 3. No external evidence of business — no signs, altered appearance, or commercial vehicles 4. Business activity must be incidental and subordinate to residential use 5. Maximum 25% of unit floor area used for business 6. No mechanical equipment causing noise, vibration, glare, fumes, or odors beyond normal residential 7. No storage of hazardous materials 8. No delivery of commercial goods to the premises in commercial vehicles Violations of home occupation rules can result in complaints from neighbors, code enforcement investigations, permit revocation, and daily fines.

• •No customers or clients may visit the home for business purposes
• •No employees other than residents may work at the home address
• •No external evidence of business — no signs, altered appearance, or commercial vehicles
• •Business activity must be incidental and subordinate to residential use
• •Maximum 25% of unit floor area used for business
• •No mechanical equipment causing noise, vibration, glare, fumes, or odors beyond normal residential
• •No storage of hazardous materials
• •No delivery of commercial goods to the premises in commercial vehicles

Prohibited Business Types

The following business types are specifically prohibited from operating as home businesses in San Francisco: Auto repair or body work; Beauty salon or barber shop with on-site clients; Medical or dental office with patient visits; Food preparation for sale (unless Cottage Food or MEHKO permit obtained); Firearms or ammunition sales; Adult entertainment; Any retail sale with customers on premises. This list may not be exhaustive — contact the San Francisco Planning Department to verify whether your specific business type is allowed under home occupation rules.

• ✕Auto repair or body work
• ✕Beauty salon or barber shop with on-site clients
• ✕Medical or dental office with patient visits
• ✕Food preparation for sale (unless Cottage Food or MEHKO permit obtained)
• ✕Firearms or ammunition sales
• ✕Adult entertainment
• ✕Any retail sale with customers on premises

Cottage Food Law

Frequently Asked Questions