- Home occupation permit required:
- Yes
- Details:
- Monroe County requires a Home Occupation Special Use Permit for residential businesses. Application fee: $500 plus $3 per property owner notification within 300-foot radius. The Director of Planning and Environmental Resources approves the permit. Key conditions: (1) home occupation is incidental/secondary to residential use; (2) must not change residential character; (3) max 1 non-resident employee; (4) may not exceed 20% of dwelling floor area; (5) no customer visits/retail sales requiring customers to come to the dwelling; (6) no outdoor signage; (7) no outdoor storage. The permit is not transferable.
- Home kitchen:
- Florida cottage food: no registration, permit, or inspection required before starting. Any non-TCS food allowed. $250,000 annual sales cap. State preemption clause (§500.80(6)) prohibits local governments from restricting cottage food operations. However, the home-based business must comply with Monroe County home occupation rules under §559.955.
Last verified 2026-05-05. Not legal advice.
