Is running a furniture business out of a home legal?
QI recently moved to Calexico and it looks like a nearby neighbor is running a furniture business out of the house. The business leaves trash and trailers around the house and the employees take up parking along the street. Is this even legal? If it isn’t, is it something I should bring to the attention of the police or city code enforcement officials? — Concerned, Calexico
AThe city of Calexico does have an ordinance on its books that allows home-based businesses to operate so long as their core activities do not distract from the area’s residential character.
Such businesses include Realtors, home designers and consulting services whose activities are limited to office-type business transactions, said City Manager Armando Villa.
The type of business and related activities that the Probe writer is describing seems to be in conflict with the intent of the city’s Home Occupation Business License, Villa said.
Although we’re touched the Probe writer chose to contact us first for help, they would’ve gotten quicker results had they contacted the city first with their concerns.
The Probe writer hadn’t initially provided us a specific address with their inquiry, prompting us to reach out to them on behalf of the city once it was made aware of the issue.
It’s only been a few days since we had provided the city with the address in question, but we’re hoping that by the time this Probe question and answer are published some progress will have been made — if indeed the residence in question is determined to be operating an unsanctioned commercial enterprise from the premises.