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PERMIT SERVICES CENTER
601 E. KENNEDY BLVD., 19TH FLOOR
TAMPA, FLORIDA 33602
TELEPHONE: (813) 272-5330

PURPOSE OF A HOME OCCUPATION

The purpose of a home occupation is to allow limited occupations to be conducted as an accessory use within a dwelling unit in a manner that is clearly incidental to the residential use. Home occupations are only available to the homeowner and those family members residing within the dwelling unit. The use must be conducted within an area not to exceed 25% of - the internal floor area of any dwelling unit. The occupation is also prohibited from being conducted outside the residence or within an accessory building on the premises. It is intended that home occupations be carried out within the confines of a dwelling unit, in a manner that is in keeping with the character of surrounding residential neighborhoods.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
(Examples That Are Allowed)

Accounting
Auditing and bookkeeping services
Architectural services
Engineering and surveying services
Interior design services
Legal services

BUSINESS SERVICE
(Examples That Are Not Allowed)

Advertising Agencies
Blueprinting and photocopying services
Interior cleaning services
Computer and data processing services
Detective agencies and security services
Insurance agencies
Management consulting and public relations services
News syndicates
Personnel services
Photo finishing laboratories
Photography
Art and graphic services
Financial services (other than banks)
Real estate services

EXCERPT FROM THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY
LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE (LDC)

2.6.4.57 Home Occupation.

The following specific standards shall be used in deciding applications for approvals for such uses:

2.6.4.57.1 No person shall be employed other than members of the-immediate family
residing on the premises, except as provided in Villages.

2.6.4.57.2 The use of the dwelling unit for the home occupation. shall be clearly
incidental and secondary to its use for residential purposes. Not more than
twenty-five (25) percent of the- floor-area -of -the dwelling unit shall be used
in the conduct of the home occupation: and no outside display, storage, or use
of land is permitted.

2.6-4.57.3 There shall be no change in the outside appearance of the building or
premises as a result of such occupation, with the exception of an unlighted
sign or nameplate, not more than one (1) square foot area, attached to and
not projecting from the building. -

2.6.4.57.4 No home occupation shall be conducted in any accessory building.

2.6-4-57.5 No. Mechanical equipment shall be used on the premises, except such that is
Normally used for purely domestic or household purposes, nor shall it create
Levels of noise, vibration, glare fumes, odors or electrical interference
Detectable to the normal senses outside the Dwelling unit in excess of that
Normally associated with household use. In the case of electrical interference,
No equipment or process shall be used which creates visual or audible.
Interference in any radio or television sets off the premises, or causes
Fluctuations in line voltage in excess of that normally associated with
Household use.

2.6.4.57.6 No commodity or good not produced on the premises shall be sold on the
Premises nor displayed or warehoused on the premises for sale elsewhere.
This does not preclude taking orders for sales or provision of services off site.

2.6-4-57.7 No traffic shall be generated by such home occupation in greater volume than
Would normally be expected from the principle use.

2.6-4.57.8 A home occupation shall include, but not be limited to the following:

Domestic crafts such as seamstress, sewing, tailoring, weaving, washing and ironing, private tutoring and instruction (limited to three pupils at any one: time), and professional services.

2.6.4-57.9 A home occupation shall not be interpreted to include activities such as auto
Repair and tune-up; general offices, clinics, Physicians, dentist's and offices of
The like; welding shops, animal hospital, kennels, catering or other food
Preparation businesses.

2.6.4.57.10 A home occupation shall not be transferred to another owner or lessee of the
Property unless the identical conditions east as to the specific occupation,
Number of persons operating the occupation, and all site conditions remain
The same.

2.6.4.57.11 Home occupations shall-be approved for two (2) years and may be renewed
as outlined in Section 2.6.4.

DEFINITION
(LDC, DIVISION 73)

Business Service:

An establishment offering primarily service to the business community and to individuals. Such services include but are not limited to advertising agencies, blueprinting and photocopying services, interior cleaning services, computer and data processing services, detective agencies and security services, insurance agencies' management- consulting and public relations services, news syndicates, personnel services, photo finishing laboratories, photography, art and graphics services, financial services (other than banks), and real estate services.

Professional Service:

An establishment containing practitioners of a calling or vocation in which a knowledge of some department of science or learning is used in its application to the affairs of others. Such activities would include but not be limited to accounting, auditing and bookkeeping services, architectural services, engineering and surveying services, interior design services, and legal services. Physicians and dentists are classified as Health Practitioners (See Health Services and Health Practitioners).

EXCEPTIONS

A home occupation is not required for someone privately working within a home for personal activities or for using a telephone or computer for business activities. Listed below are criteria to help determine if the activities are exempt from the home occupation review:

1. No advertisement of the business such as business cards, company letterhead, brochures, phone book advertisement, or signs which would relate the business to a home address shall be permitted. The address of the business shall be a post office box. although the phone number may be the same as a home phone number; the name of the company in the phone book shall not be listed with a street address.

2. Merchandise shall never be kept, stored, or displayed at the home.

3. Business clients shall never visit the. home Only immediate family members residing in the dwelling shall be involved in the business activity at the residence.