The Home Occupation Permit rules and application is the City of Sacramento Planning Division's package for anyone who plans to run a business out of a residence in the city: the requirements sheet (CDD-0099) and the one-page Home Occupation Permit Application (CDD-0142). It is submitted together with the application for a City Business Operations Tax certificate (BOT), so it is the zoning step a home-based business needs alongside the city's BOT, a related search being "sacramento business license". On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the original PDF is published by the city.
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What is CDD-0142 (application); CDD-0099 (requirements)?
The Home Occupation Permit rules and application is the City of Sacramento Planning Division package that explains the zoning requirements for running a business out of a residence and provides the application, CDD-0142, that you submit with your Business Operations Tax application.
The package has two parts. CDD-0099, titled Home Occupations – Zoning Permit Process and Requirements (Section 17.228.200 of the Sacramento City Code), sets out the application process, the allowable home occupations, the requirements that apply to all of them, the prohibited occupations, building code points, renewal and revocation. CDD-0142, the Home Occupation Permit Application, is a single page asking for your contact details, business name, business category, description, employees and customer visits, with two initialed statements and a signature.
The city describes a home occupation as an accessory use, not the primary use of the residence, and regulates it so that its effects on a neighborhood are undetectable from normal residential activity. Approval comes as an Administrative Permit when the use is allowed and meets the uniform standards of City Code Section 17.228.230. A home occupation that is not on the allowed list, or that cannot meet one of the requirements, must instead apply for a Conditional Use Permit.
The permit is separate from the Business Operations Tax Certificate (BOT) issued by the City Revenue Division, which the agency's permitting page describes as a tax on businesses operating in the city rather than a license to conduct business at a specific location.
Who needs to file CDD-0142 (application); CDD-0099 (requirements)?
Anyone who plans to conduct a business out of a residence in the City of Sacramento needs a Home Occupation Permit.
- Applicants whose occupation is on the city's allowable list, which includes general office uses, internet or mail order business, dressmaker or tailor, artist, tutoring, pet services, hair stylist, barber or manicurist, healing arts professional, swimming instructor and cottage food operation, among others. Several carry special conditions, such as no pet services, treatment visits or swimming instruction at the permitted residence.
- Applicants whose occupation is not listed, or who cannot meet a standard requirement, who must apply for a Conditional Use Permit instead.
Do not apply if you do not live within the city limits of Sacramento: the city says you do not need this permit, and a fee paid by mistake is not refunded.
No permit can be issued for prohibited occupations, including an auto service or repair shop, an adult business, a towing service or vehicle storage yard, any activity causing noise, odor, dust, vibration, fumes or smoke discernible at the parcel boundary, or any involving cannabis products, including industrial hemp.
The form is signed by the applicant, who confirms having read the permit regulations.
When to file CDD-0142 (application); CDD-0099 (requirements)
Submit the Home Occupation Permit Application at the same time as your application for a City Business Operations Tax (BOT); the city requires the two to be filed together. Planning Division staff then review the permit application, and if it is approved the Revenue Division informs you and gives you a Business Operations Tax Certificate.
The permit is valid for as long as you keep your BOT current and operate the business at the location stated on the permit. You do not need to renew it unless one of these happens:
- You move to another residence within the city and want to keep working from home.
- You change the type of business.
- You discontinue the business and restart it after one year.
- You do not have a current BOT.
If you do not meet the criteria, the application is denied. The Zoning Administrator can also revoke a permit, for example for a public nuisance or a violation of a condition of approval.
Documents you need
- Application for a City Business Operations Tax (BOT), submitted at the same time as the Home Occupation Permit Application; the city requires the two applications together.
How to fill out CDD-0142 (application); CDD-0099 (requirements)
Confirm you live within city limits
Make sure the residence is within the City of Sacramento; otherwise you do not need this permit and the fee will not be refunded.
Check that your occupation is allowable
Read the Allowable Home Occupations, Requirements of all Home Occupations and Prohibited Home Occupations sections of CDD-0099. Occupations not listed need a Conditional Use Permit.
Enter your contact details
Fill in Name of Applicant, E-Mail Address, Home Address, Work Phone Number and Cell Number. Staff use the email or phone number you give if they have questions.
Enter the business name
Write your business name in the Business Name field.
Check one business category
Check only one box under Business Category (check one). For an office, complete Office for:; for an occupation not shown, use Other:.
Describe the business
Write a brief description of what the business does in Business Description.
Answer the employees question
Check Yes or No for Do you have employees; if Yes, enter the number of employees.
Answer the customers question
Check Yes or No for Will clients/customers come to the home? If Yes, you must comply with building code requirements and the permit's limits on clients.
Initial both statements
Initial the statement that you have read the Home Occupation Permit information sheet and will comply, and the statement that you understand violations may bring a penalty or revocation.
Sign, date and skip Office Use Only
Enter your Signature and Date. Leave the Office Use Only block (APN, BOT #, HOP #, Accela entry) for city staff.
Review and download the completed PDF
Check every entry, then download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and submit it with your BOT application as described under How to submit.
How to submit CDD-0142 (application); CDD-0099 (requirements)
You can submit the application online or in person at the City Revenue Division, always together with your BOT application.
- Online: the city's requirements sheet says applications may be submitted online through a link on its page; no web address is printed in the document itself.
- In person: City Revenue Division, Room 1214, City Hall, 915 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95814.
The application fee applies and is non-refundable; ask the Planning Division for the current amount. If the permit is denied and you paid for a BOT, the Revenue Division voids the BOT and refunds the BOT fees, but not the permit fee.
Questions about allowable occupations: [email protected], 311 within city limits or 916-264-5011 outside city limits. In-person meetings are by appointment, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., through the city's Appointment Scheduling webpage; the Planning Counter is at 300 Richards Blvd., Room 300, Sacramento, CA 95811. For the BOT, contact the Revenue Division at 916-808-8500 or [email protected]. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Submitting the Home Occupation Permit Application without a Business Operations Tax (BOT) application; the city requires both to be submitted at the same time.
- Applying when you do not live within the City of Sacramento limits; no permit is needed and the fee will not be refunded.
- Choosing a business category that is not allowable, or one on the prohibited list such as auto repair, towing or cannabis products, which cannot be permitted.
- Leaving the initials blank on the two statements about reading the regulations and understanding that violations may bring a penalty or revocation.
- Writing in the Office Use Only block (APN, BOT #, HOP #, Accela entry), which is for city staff.
- Planning employees or customer visits without checking building code requirements first; the city urges you to talk to the Building Division before paying the application fee.
- Planning more than one non-resident employee reporting to the home, more than one client per hour or more than eight clients a day.
- Displaying a sign, nameplate or other advertising on the premises, which is not allowed for a home occupation.
- Continuing after moving, changing business type or letting your BOT lapse without a new permit application.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Home Occupation Permit in Sacramento?
It is the city's zoning approval, issued as an Administrative Permit, for running a business out of a residence in the City of Sacramento. It applies to a use that is accessory to the home and meets the standards in City Code Section 17.228.230. The application is form CDD-0142.
Do I need a Sacramento business license for a home business?
You need a Home Occupation Permit and, for any business in the city, a Business Operations Tax Certificate (BOT) from the Revenue Division. The city describes the BOT as a tax, not a license to operate at a specific location. Both applications are submitted together.
Where do I submit the Home Occupation Permit application?
Submit it online or in person at the City Revenue Division, Room 1214, City Hall, 915 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95814, together with your BOT application. The requirements sheet prints no web address for the online option, so use the link on the city's page.
Is the Home Occupation Permit fee refundable?
No. The application fee is non-refundable, even if the permit is denied or you later find you live outside the city. If the permit is denied and you paid for a BOT, the Revenue Division voids the BOT and refunds the BOT fees.
Do I have to renew a Home Occupation Permit?
Not routinely. It stays valid while your BOT is current and you operate at the address on the permit. You need a new application if you move within the city, change the type of business, restart after a one-year break or have no current BOT.
Can customers or employees come to my home business?
Customers may visit unless your occupation prohibits it, with no more than one per hour and eight per day. Only one person who is not a resident may work at the residence. Building code requirements may apply, so contact the Building Division first.
What if my business is not on the allowable list?
You apply for a Conditional Use Permit instead, which the Zoning Administrator can issue when the findings in City Code Section 17.808.200.C can be made. Prohibited occupations, such as auto repair or towing, cannot receive either permit.
Can I fill out the Home Occupation Permit application online on FillingPDF?
Yes. You can fill out the application online on FillingPDF and download or print the PDF. FillingPDF is independent of the City of Sacramento and does not submit it; you file it with your BOT application through the city's channels.
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