Home Based Businesses
Zoning Administration
- Benny Beckham
- Administrator
- County Annex Building
- 1st Floor
- 10 SW 2nd Avenue
- Gainesville, Fl 32601
- Phone: 352-374-5243
- Fax: 352-491-4510
- Hours: 8:30-4:00 pm
- Map
- GM staff directory
- County staff directory
Why do I need a permit to start a home based business?
A permit is required to ensure that the business you're starting conforms to the character of your neighborhood, does not have a negative impact on your neighbors, does not pollute the environment, and conforms to the Land Development Code (ULDC) and all other County ordinances relating to Home Based Businesses.
Forms
See Chapter 404, Article 13 of the Land Development Code (ULDC) for more detailed requirements for Home Based Businesses.
How many Home Based Businesses can I have?
Two permits for home-based businesses may be issued at one time for a single dwelling unit.
How long is the permit valid for and how much does it cost?
Each permit is valid for a period of up to two years but can be renewed administratively subject to continued conformance with the requirements outlined below. The cost of the permit is $70 every 2 years.
What are the permit requirements for Home Based Businesses?
General Home based Businesses are issued adminstratively by the Director of Growth Management or his designee
The following conditions must be met:
- Only lawful residents of the home will be engaged or employed on-site.
- The business will be clearly incidental and subordinate to the residential use of the home.
- There will be no exterior structural or architectural modification to the home related to the business.
- The business will not occupy more than 20% of the gross floor area of my home, exclusive of the area of any open porch, attached garage, or similar space not suited for occupancy as living quarters of the dwelling.
- The business will not be conducted in an accessory building, including any barn, carport, detached garage, porch, stable or similar building or structure on-site, and such accessory buildings shall not be used to store materials and supplies utilized for the home-based business.
- There will be no more than two additional off-street parking spaces provided to accommodate the business, and any spaces will utilize the existing driveway serving the home.
- Customer or client visits will be limited to the hours from 8 AM to 8 PM.
- The business will not generate more than six customer or client visits per day, and no more than two clients will be present at any time.
- The business will park and store no more than one commercial vehicle on premises, not to exceed a one-ton capacity, and such vehicle will not be stored in front of the home.
- The business will be subject to the noise regulations in Ch. 110 of the Alachua County Code.
- The business will not utilize equipment or processes that create vibration, glare, fumes, odors, or dust discernable at the property lines.
- The business will not utilize any combustible materials in violation of applicable fire prevention regulations.
- The business will not utilize or maintain on site any hazardous materials in violation of Ch. 353, Article II of the County Code relating to hazardous materials management.
- The business will not utilize equipment or processes that create electrical, visual, or audible interference in any radio or television receivers off-premises, or otherwise interfere with the off-premise use of electric or electronic devices of any kind.
Rural Home based Businesses must be approved by the Development Review Committee.
The following conditions must be met:
- Only lawful residents of the home will be engaged in the business and no more than three additional employees.
- The minimum lot area must be three acres.
- The business will be clearly incidental and subordinate to the residential use of the home.
- There will be no exterior structural or architectural modification to the home related to the business.
- The business will not occupy more than 20% of the gross floor area of my home, not including any required parking areas.
- If the business is conducted in an accessory building, such building shall be a maximum of 50% of the size of the living area of the dwelling, exclusive of required off-street parking.
- Landscaping is required to screen off-street parking and assembly or storage areas from the view of adjacent landowners and public rights of way, and must comply with the requirements of Article 4, Landscaping, of Chapter 407 of the ULDC.
- A maximum of three additional off-street parking spaces may be provided to accommodate the business and must utilize the existing driveway serving the residence.
- Customer or client visits will be limited to the hours from 8 AM to 8 PM.
- The business will park and store no more than three commercial vehicles on premises, not to exceed a one-ton capacity, and such vehicle will not be stored in front of the home. This includes customer vehicles stored on-site for repair purposes, but no vehicles temporarily parked during a customer or service visit or during a delivery.
- The business will be subject to the noise regulations in Ch. 110 of the Alachua County Code.
- The business will not utilize equipment or processes that create vibration, glare, fumes, odors, or dust discernable at the property lines.
- The business will not utilize any combustible materials in violation of applicable fire prevention regulations.
- The business will not utilize or maintain on site any hazardous materials in violation of Ch. 353, Article II of the County Code relating to hazardous materials management.
