Downey Customer Traffic Restrictions Rules (2026): What You Need to Know

Downey Municipal Code Section 9408 (Home Occupations) and Section 9408.10 (Prohibited Home Occupations) establish strict limits on the commercial activity that may occur at a home-based business to protect the residential character of neighborhoods. A core requirement is that no client, customer, patient, or non-resident employee may visit the home for business purposes. The home occupation must be conducted entirely within the enclosed living area of the dwelling and may not spill into the garage, accessory structures, or outdoor areas.

Business activity must remain invisible from the exterior and must not generate additional traffic, parking, noise, or deliveries beyond what a typical residential household produces. Commercial vehicle deliveries — beyond standard postal and package carriers such as USPS, UPS, and FedEx — are prohibited. The business may not create noise generated by mechanical equipment that is audible beyond the property boundaries, vibration perceptible from adjacent properties, or electrical interference. The home occupation may not use more than 25% of the total floor area of the dwelling for business purposes.

The City recognizes that residents with documented physical disabilities may have difficulty complying with certain conditions. Such residents may file a written request with the City Planner for a waiver of one or more conditions, specifying the conditions sought to be waived and the reasons. The prohibited home occupations list (Section 9408.10) enumerates specific business types that may never be conducted as home occupations regardless of circumstances. A Home Occupation Permit from the Planning Division and a City business license are both required before commencing any home-based business.