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If you have trouble falling asleep, here’s something new to try. When you curl up in bed tonight, bring along a copy of the local municipal code to read. Slogging through the lawyerly fine print will not only make your eyelids heavy, it could help you unearth some surprising discoveries. I learned the other day that if you earn an income working at home — anything from lacing lanyards for a craft sale to consulting on paramilitary projects for Halliburton — most East Bay cities require you to have a home occupation permit and a business license. There are a few exemptions, such as nonprofit organizations and youngsters under 18, but they are as rare as burned kernels in a bucket of popcorn. Every community is slightly different, but Walnut Creek reflects the norm: $50 for an occupation permit and graduated licensing fees based on gross receipts, beginning with dollar one. The lowest fee is $23, then it swells into the thousands, depending on how successful you are at peddling lanyards. The license must be renewed each year. If the ordinance seems absolute, well, it is. By law, even a retired music teacher who charges neighbor kids for piano lessons must file papers with City Hall. If you alter slacks and skirts in your home to earn some fun money, the city says you are a business. “If you’re doing anything that’s business-oriented, you’re required to have a license,. . (Excerpt) Read more at contracostatimes.com …