Home Business in Florissant, MO

If you live in Florissant or are thinking about moving there, home business are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Florissant has 3 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of home business, and some of them might surprise you.

Home Daycare

Running a family child day care home in Florissant requires a City business license before the first child arrives, and homes caring for more than four unrelated children must also hold a Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services license. The City caps every home at ten children total.

Key details: City license required: Yes, via Director of Finance. State license triggers at: More than 4 children. Application fee: $50 for homes over 4 children. Absolute capacity cap: 10 children per home. Minimum outdoor play area: 750 sq ft rear yard.

Operating without the required City license, or without the added State DHSS license once a home exceeds four unrelated children, is unlawful under § 605.355(A). The City can deny or refuse to renew a license for a false statement, an incomplete application, unpaid fees, or a finding that an operator, employee or regular household presence lacks fitness to care for children, including molestation, abuse, a felony, theft, fraud or moral turpitude, per § 605.355(I). Operating over the licensed headcount, from a non-residence, without the provider present, or below the 750-square-foot play-area minimum violates § 605.357.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Florissant actively enforces its home daycare requirements.

Zoning & Home Occupation Permits

Florissant zoning treats a 'home occupation' as a permitted accessory use in every residential district, but only two family members living on the premises may run it, no outside employees are allowed, and the business can use no more than 20% of the home's floor area, basement excluded.

Key details: Max operators: 2 resident family members. Outside employees allowed: None (limited state-supervised exception). Max floor area used: 20% of home, basement excluded. On-site retail sales: Prohibited. Zoning status: Permitted accessory use, R-districts.

A use that exceeds the two-family-member limit, hires outside staff, sells goods on-site, stores non-domestic equipment, or uses more than 20% of the home's floor area no longer qualifies as a home occupation and becomes an unpermitted use in a residential district. Under § 405.480, the Building Commissioner and Mayor enforce the Zoning Code; violators face a misdemeanor fine of $10 to $100 per day the violation continues, or $25 to $100 per day (or up to 10 days' imprisonment) if the offense is willful, plus potential civil liability to an injured neighbor.

Signage Rules

A Florissant home occupation cannot display any sign at all. The zoning code's definition of 'home occupation' bars any exterior sign or display indicating the dwelling is used for anything but a home, making a completely sign-free exterior a condition of keeping the permitted-use status.

Key details: Signs allowed for a home occupation: None. Governing definition: § 405.035, HOME OCCUPATION. Consequence of any sign: Loses home-occupation zoning status. Separate general residential sign cap: 1 sq ft 'professional' sign, § 520.140. Enforcement: Building Commissioner, § 405.480.

Posting any exterior sign or display for a home occupation removes the use from the § 405.035 definition, meaning the business is no longer a permitted use in a residential district. Enforcement runs through § 405.480: the Building Commissioner and Mayor may pursue a misdemeanor charge carrying a fine of $10 to $100 per day the violation continues, rising to $25 to $100 per day (or up to 10 days' imprisonment) for a willful violation, with civil liability also available to an aggrieved neighbor.

Compared to other cities, Florissant takes a harder line on signage rules. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

The Bottom Line

Florissant is tougher than many cities when it comes to home business. Out of the 3 rules covered here, 2 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Florissant, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

Keep in mind that Florissant can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.