Community Development
The City's Code Enforcement staff respond to potential violations of the City of Mission Viejo Municipal Code which includes property maintenance, recreational vehicle parking and storage, zoning regulations, signs, and home occupations. When a violation is identified, the responsible parties are contacted and requested to abate the violation. If the respondent fails to comply with the City codes, the City conducts administrative hearings giving the respondent every opportunity to voluntarily comply. If voluntary compliance cannot be achieved, the City Attorney may prosecute the case.
Business Licenses
Business licenses are not required for businesses located and operating in City of Mission Viejo; however, all new businesses are required to obtain a Certificate of Occupancy permit from the City's Building Services Division.
Building Counter Hours: Monday - Friday, 8 am to 4 pm (last sign in 3:30 pm).
Counter is closed from 12 pm to 1 pm
Online Client Self Service system is now available! Apply for a permit and schedule/cancel your inspections online. The Permit Applicant must list all contacts on their permit to allow for viewing permit details and scheduling inspections.
The following minimum number of parking spaces shall be provided for each use ("sf." refers to square foot and "gfa." refers to gross floor area):
TABLE INSET:
(5) Home occupations. The following provisions are intended to allow for the conduct of home enterprises that are incidental to and compatible with surrounding residential uses. A home occupation represents a legal income-producing activity by the occupant of the dwelling.
b. Prohibited home occupation uses. The following list presents example uses that are not incidental to or compatible with residential activities, and are therefore prohibited:
(i) Adult business.
(ii) Barber and beauty shop.
(5) Home occupations. The following provisions are intended to allow for the conduct of home enterprises that are incidental to and compatible with surrounding residential uses. A home occupation represents a legal income-producing activity by the occupant of the dwelling.
a. Home occupations shall comply with all of the following operating standards:
(i) The home occupation shall not alter the appearance of the dwelling unit.
No person shall park and leave standing upon any public street or highway within the city limits of the City of Mission Viejo any motor vehicle of a length in excess of 25 feet or a weight in excess of 10,000 pounds; also prohibited from being parked on public streets and highways within the city limits of the City of Mission Viejo is any vehicle used or maintained for the transportation of persons for hire, compensation, or profit, and designed, and used, or maintained for the transportation of property, including buses, motor trucks, trailers, semitrailers, trailer coaches
(g) Trailers and nonmotorized vehicles. No person shall at any time park or leave standing a nonmotorized vehicle or camper, regardless of width or length, when it has been detached from its motor vehicle on any public street or highway in the city except for purposes of loading or unloading and for a period not to exceed two hours.
(Ord. No. 88-12, § 5(6-4-603), 6-27-88)
(a) Unless expressly permitted elsewhere in this chapter, the following signs are prohibited:
(1) Any off-site or outdoor advertising sign or structures placed for the purpose of advertising a business not on the property upon which the sign is placed.
(2) No commercial sign shall be erected within or encroach upon any public property or within any public right-of-way.
The following signs are exempt from the sign permit requirements set forth in this division:
(a) On-site residential real estate signs, including window signs, advertising the sale, lease, or rent of the property shall be permitted subject to the following:
(1) Signs shall not exceed four square feet in area, and a height of four feet, with the exception of single-family detached residences where colonial signs shall be permitted.