Lauderhill, FL Business Licensing & Operations: Auto Repair on Residential Property (2026)

Land Development Regulations Section 5.1.5 splits home vehicle repair into two tiers. Minor motor vehicle repairs, defined to include tune-ups, replacing or adjusting lights, changing fluids, replacing starters and alternators, belts, windows, skylights and mirrors, routine adjustments, changing tires, and replacing brake pads or servicing brakes, are permitted as an accessory use in every residential zoning district, but only the owner or tenant who legally resides at the property may do the work, and only on a personal, noncommercial vehicle registered to that resident; working on someone else's car is prohibited.

The repair must start and finish within one calendar day, between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., must occur on a paved surface, and every part removed from the vehicle must be stored where it cannot be seen from any public property, right-of-way, swale or neighboring lot. Repairs are barred outright on public property, in the right-of-way, in swale areas, or on someone else's property. Major motor vehicle repairs, rebuilding or reconditioning engines, transmission work, body work, frame-straightening, painting beyond touch-ups, exhaust repairs, welding, and brake re-lining, are prohibited in every residential zoning district, with one exception: an owner or tenant may perform major repairs on their own privately owned personal vehicle inside their accessory residential garage.

Any code or law enforcement officer may cite a person performing repairs in violation of Section 5.1.5, and if no one is present, the citation can be affixed to the windshield of the offending vehicle.