Home Occupation Permit
Who?
You need this permit if you run a business from your home or someone else's home in Petaluma. This is true whether you:
- Provide services from your home—e.g., bookkeeping, tutoring, counseling, childcare, music lessons, etc.
- Sell products made elsewhere—e.g., you import jewelry and sell it online and/or through a distributor.
- Make products that you or someone else sell—art, furniture, clothing, electronics, food, etc.
How?
First, visit the Planning Division Online Application and Permits webpage to download and complete a General Application and Home Occupation Permit. Then, submit online through our new Permits & Planning Hub.
Timing and Cost
For most businesses with an approved business license, this permit can be issued on the same day it is submitted. Home-based child care and adult care facilities are subject to special requirements and review. This permit is issued once for each business; renewal is only required if the business changes location or operations. The cost is listed on the Fee Schedule.
Why?
Businesses often create noise, emit odors, cause traffic, or cause other impacts that are not appropriate for a residential neighborhood. The Home Occupation Permit process enables the City to restrict the types of businesses allowed in a residence, which helps protect the surrounding neighborhood.
Questions?
If you are unsure whether you need this permit, contact the Planning Division by email ([email protected]), telephone (707-778-4470), or in person at 11 English Street (West Wing).
The Home Occupation Permit protects neighborhoods from noise, traffic, and other impacts of commercial activities.