§ 7.14.00. Home Occupations.

Authorized home occupations shall comply with all of the following provisions:

(A)

No more than two individuals shall be employed in the home occupation;

(B)

The use of the dwelling unit for the home occupation shall be clearly incidental and subordinate to the use of the unit for residential purposes by its occupants. Under no circumstances shall the residential character of the property be changed by the home occupation;

(C)

No sign or display shall be provided to indicate from the exterior that the building is being used in whole or in part for any purposes other than that of a dwelling;

(D)

Business activities associated with a home occupation, including storage of merchandise and materials, shall take place only in the principal structure except in A-1- and F-R-zoned districts where activities may be located inside an enclosed accessory building;

(E)

No home occupation shall occupy more than a total of 500 square feet of floor area in principal structures in R-1-, R-2- and R-3-zoned areas. A-1- and F-R-zoned areas may utilize 500 square feet of an accessory structure or a combination of principal structure and accessory structure, not to exceed 500 square feet;

(F)

Traffic shall not be generated by the home occupation in greater volumes than would normally be generated by a dwelling unit in a residential area. No additional parking spaces shall be provided in excess of those required to serve the residential unit under Section 3.11.00;

(G)

No equipment or process shall be used in a home occupation that creates noise, vibration, glare, fumes, odors or electrical interference detectable to the normal senses. In case of electrical interference, no equipment or process shall be used that creates visual or audible interference in radio or television receivers or causes fluctuations in line voltages off the premises; and,

(H)

No articles or materials pertaining to the home occupation shall be stored on the premises, except inside the principal structure.

7.14.01. Procedure for Approval of a Home Occupation.

A home occupation may be approved administratively by the County Manager /designee upon payment of a review fee established by the Board of County Commissioners and submission of an application containing the following information and documentation:

(A)

Name(s) of owner(s) and a copy of the deed to the property;

(B)

Legal description of the property;

(C)

Complete written description of the activity proposed as a home occupation;

(D)

Copy of Hardee County Property Appraiser's map showing subject property and all surrounding properties within a 100-foot radius of subject property's boundaries;

(E)

Signatures of all neighbors within a 100-foot radius signifying they have no objection to the proposed use; and

(F)

Certified survey of subject property (at County Manager's/designee's discretion).

The County Manager or his/her designee may refer the matter to the Planning and Zoning Board for approval if signatures from all property owners within the 100-foot radius of the subject property cannot be obtained, or for any other reason that may justify such referral. Home occupation approvals shall be handled through the same process as a Special Exception approval.