Allowing a business to operate in a R1 residential property

[Jeremy Williams]

Hey BP, have a question around allowing a new tenant to run a small business out of our property. The property is located in a mixed (commercial / Res) Street / Area close to downtown Santa Rosa (1 block). We've been struggling with finding new tenants due to the lack of yard space and this proximity. We have a very interested Applicant that would like to live the house but also run a reflexology and message therapy business with her husband. We have vetted them and they are good candidates with income and background and many positive references. The question is can we allow this in our R1 property? Do we need to consult the city or like most small businesses these days that run online and operate in homes can we allow them to set up shop?  I'm trying to get answers from the city but they seem to not have a congruent and definitive answer depending on who you speak with.  Would love to hear from others that have had this experience.