Home Based Business

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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. If you are doing work inside your home, then you can apply for a General Home Based Business as long as you comply with the standards provided in the General Home Based requirements link below. If you live in the Rural/Ag area and are working in an accessory building, then you can apply for a Rural Home Based Business if you comply with the Rural Home Based Business requirements below. Contact the Zoning Administrator at 352-384-3184, or hbanner@alachuacounty.us for application information.


Frequently Asked Questions


General Home-Based Business

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 $65 every 2 years.

General Home-Based Businesses requirements.

General Home based Businesses are issued adminstratively by the Director of Growth Management or his designee

  • 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.
  • Sales of goods on the site shall be limited to goods or merchandise produced or processed on the site or direct sale of goods through the internet or mail order.
  • In accordance with Chapter 407, Article 3, signs. A general home based business in any zoing district may be allowed one building sign mounted on the residence, not to exceed two square feet in size.
Can I apply for General Home-Based Business if I am not the property owner?

Yes, however, if applicant is different from the owner, a notarized letter of authorization from the property onwner or property management must be attached.

What is the Tourist Development Tax?

The Tourist Development Tax (also referred to as tourist tax, bed tax or resort tax) is a 5% charge on the revenue from rentals of six months or less. This tax applies to the short-term rental of any living quarters or accommodations in any hotel, apartment hotel, motel, resort motel, apartment, apartment motel, rooming house, tourist camp, trailer camp, condominium, room or home. The tourist development tax shall be charged by the person receiving the consideration for the lease or rental, and it shall be collected from the lessee, tenant, or customer at the time of payment.

Learn more about how to start The Tourist Development Tax Application Process.

Do I need a permit to do the short term lease as a property owner?

No permit is required for this purpose.

How Do I Apply?

You can create an account online and apply for your home-based business license through our Citizenserve online portal here.


Rural Home-Based Business

Rural Home-based Businesses requirements.

Rural Home based Businesses must be approved administratively by the Growth Management Department.

  • A development plan for the site demonstrating compliance with these standards (Chapter 404, Article13, Section 404.63 Home Based Business) shall be submitted to the Growth Management Department.
  • 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.
  • The business will not occupy more than 20% of the gross floor area of my home, not including any required parking areas.
  • The business may be conducted in an accessory building.
  • 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 and deliveries 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 premise. 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.
  • Signage shall be allowed in accordance with the standards for permanent signage in the Agriculture zoning district in Section 407.33 of Chapter 407.
  • 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.
  • All sales shall be incidental to the principal residential or agriculture use and shall involve only the sale of goods or merchandise produced or processed by the rural home-based business. Retail sales of goods not produced or processed on the premises are prohibited.
  • A permit for each separate rural home-based business shall be obtained and the appropriate fees paid, subject to the following conditions:
  • Such permit may be issued only by the Growth Management Department, in accordance with Chapter 401, Article 5.
  • No more than two permits for home-based businesses (rural or general) shall be issued for a single dwelling unit.
  • Each permit shall be valid for a period of up to two years but shall be renewable upon administrative review and continued conformance with applicable standards.
Can I apply for Rural Home-Based Business if I am not the property owner?

Yes, however, if applicant is different from the owner, a notarized letter of authorization from the property onwner or property management must be attached.

Permit Cost and Duration.

The base fee is $130. The permit needs to be renewed every 2 years, and the renewal fee is $65.

How Do I Apply?

You can create an account online and apply for your home-based business license through our Citizenserve online portal here.



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