City adopts ordinance to align home-based business rules with Florida law

The commission adopted ordinance 2025-13 (second reading) on Jan. 20 to update local code governing home-based businesses so it aligns with a recent statewide statute. Mitchell Austin, assistant director of community development, told the commission the ordinance was drafted to ensure "operational consistency with the existing adopted Florida statute" and that no substantive changes were made between first and second readings.

City staff and counsel said the state rewrote the statute to remove barriers that local zoning had sometimes used to prevent residents from operating home-based businesses, and the ordinance brings the city's land-development code and business tax receipt provisions into conformity with the state law.

The commission held a roll-call vote and adopted the ordinance at second reading. Commissioners who asked questions emphasized that the change was required by state law rather than purely discretionary local policy.

What happens next: The ordinance takes effect per the effective-date language in the code amendment and staff will incorporate operational and code changes into the city code and guidance for residents and business owners.