Home Occupation and Business Guidelines for the City of Mesa

Residents of the City of Mesa may conduct business activities from their primary residence provided the occupation remains ancillary to the residential use and does not employ non-resident individuals on-site. While most residential and mixed-use districts permit home occupations by right, specific Agricultural and low-density Single Residence districts allow for expanded operations, such as the employment of up to two non-residents, through a Special Use Permit. All home-based businesses in the City of Mesa must adhere to strict limitations regarding exterior signage, outdoor storage, and customer traffic to preserve the character of the neighborhood.

Permitted Districts and Authorization Levels

The City of Mesa classifies home occupations as an ancillary activity. Depending on the specific zoning of the property, the business may be permitted by right ("P") or require a Special Use Permit ("SUP") for expanded operations.

Zoning District Group	Permission Level	Key Requirements
Agricultural (AG)	P / SUP	SUP required for non-resident employees [Section 11-4-2].
Single Residence (RS-6 to RS-90)	P / SUP	SUP for expanded options only in RS-90 and RS-43 [Section 11-5-2].
Small Lot Single Residence (RSL)	P	Must be incidental to the primary residence [Section 11-5-2].
Multiple Residence (RM)	P	Permitted by right in RM-2, RM-3, and RM-4 [Section 11-5-2].
Commercial (NC, LC, GC, OC)	P	Permitted only where a residence is authorized [Section 11-6-2].
Downtown Districts (DR, DB, DC)	P	Permitted where a residence is authorized [Section 11-8-3].

Operational Standards for All Home Occupations

All home occupations within the City of Mesa must comply with the following performance standards to ensure they do not become a nuisance to neighboring residents [Section 11-31-33]:

Employment: No person other than a resident of the dwelling may be employed or conduct business at the residence, except in specific districts with an approved Special Use Permit.
Signage: There must be no exterior indication of the business, with the exception of one (1) non-illuminated, static sign. This sign cannot exceed three (3) square feet in area and must be attached to the building or placed in a window.
Storage and Display: The City of Mesa prohibits the exterior storage or display of any materials, goods, or equipment associated with the business.
Parking: The residence may not be used for long-term parking of vehicles used by non-resident employees or clients. Any short-term parking must occur on the property or on the street immediately in front of the residence.
Nuisance: Business activities must be conducted entirely indoors and must not negatively impact the residential character of the neighborhood or the safety of neighbors.

Expanded Home Occupations (AG, RS-90, and RS-43)

In the Agricultural (AG) district and the larger Single Residence districts (RS-90 and RS-43), the City of Mesa may allow for expanded business operations via a Special Use Permit [Section 11-31-33(B)]. These expanded permissions include:

Artisan Fabrication: The fabrication of artisan or custom-crafted materials for installation elsewhere.
Non-Resident Employees: The business may employ up to two (2) non-resident individuals.
Additional Parking: One additional on-site, independently accessed parking space must be provided for each non-resident employee. This space must be on a dust-proof surface.
Enclosed Storage: Any commercial storage must take place entirely within an enclosed structure.

Use Classifications and Prohibited Activities

A home occupation in the City of Mesa is defined as a use that is clearly incidental and subordinate to the residential use of the property [Section 11-86-2].

Included Activities

General office work and professional services.
Artisan work and fine arts instruction.
Swimming lessons and babysitting, provided the activity serves five (5) or fewer persons at one time.
Door-to-door and telephone solicitation.

Prohibited Activities

The following activities are expressly excluded from the definition of a home occupation and are not permitted in residential zones in the City of Mesa [Section 11-87]:

On-site Exchange: The regular on-site exchange of sold or bartered goods (except for occasional/infrequent exchanges).
Vehicle Repair: Any on-site vehicle repair operated as a commercial use.
Warehousing: Commercial warehousing or storage of goods, whether indoor or outdoor.

Sections Cited

Section 11-4-2: Agricultural District Land Use Regulations
Section 11-5-2: Residential Districts Land Use Regulations
Section 11-6-2: Commercial Districts Land Use Regulations
Section 11-8-3: Downtown Districts Land Use Regulations
Section 11-31-33: Home Occupations
Section 11-86-2: Residential Use Classifications
Chapter 87: Definitions