Legal Question in Civil Litigation in California

I have a tenant renting my small house in CA and he wants to use the outside laundry room as an office space. The laundry room does not open into the house. The laundry room does have a door which opens to the garage, and 2 other doors that open to the outside air, as well as 3 windows which can be opened. Is it legal to use the laundry room as an office space? I think this has something to do with the definition of "living space" (I am sure that one could not set up a bed in the garage, for example, because it's not set up as a living space.). If you can answer this, I would be most grateful- I haven't been able to find out from the internet. I don't even know what type of attorney handles this sort of issue, so I'm sorry if I chose the wrong type.


Asked on 3/12/10, 9:53 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
George Shers Law Offices of Georges H. Shers

Contact the local planning code or similar division of the local entity and ask wht the rules are. It seems to me that there is no reason it can not be used, with the exception that the neighborhood may be zoned only for residential use. An exception probably exists if the office does not involve any clients coming there or other traffic so that there is no significnat increae in noise or vehicle traffic in the area. Many such offices exist in resediential areas, normally without any prior city approval. The tenant may have to pay a business license tax and be sure that your homeowners policy will cover the business useage..

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Answered on 3/17/10, 10:17 am


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