Osceola County, FL Ordinances (2026)

In unincorporated Osceola County, general sound crossing your property line may not exceed 55 dBA from 7:00 a.m. through sunset, or 45 dBA from one minute after sunset through 6:59…

A dog whose barking annoys or disturbs neighbors is a "noise disturbance" prohibited under Osceola County Code § 9-110(g), and an animal creating a nuisance is separately citable under…

Lawful construction in unincorporated Osceola County is exempt from the noise limits only between 7:00 a.m. and sunset. Construction noise outside those hours is not exempt and must…

Osceola County sets no separate leaf-blower ordinance. Gas and electric lawn, garden and household maintenance tools—including leaf blowers—are exempt from noise limits only between…

No vehicle in unincorporated Osceola County may discharge exhaust except through a working muffler (§ 9-110(d)). On-road motor-vehicle noise is regulated by Florida law (FS 316.293)…

Music from any instrument, speaker, phonograph or amplifier may not exceed 45 dBC at your property line from 7:00 a.m. through sunset, or 40 dBC after sunset through 6:59 a.m., under…

Outdoor music and amplified sound must stay within 45 dBC (7 a.m.-sunset) or 40 dBC (sunset-6:59 a.m.) at the property line under § 9-110(b). Outdoor loudspeakers and PA systems may…

Air conditioning, mechanical, ventilating, refrigerating equipment, pumps and similar machinery may not exceed 50 dBC (7 a.m.-sunset) or 45 dBC (sunset-6:59 a.m.) at the property line…

Osceola County's noise ordinance does not regulate aircraft. Section 9-110(h)(5) exempts "aircraft" (and locomotives/railroad equipment) from the county noise limits, because aircraft…

Osceola County sets tiered property-line decibel caps: general sound 55 dBA day / 45 dBA night; music 45/40 dBC; mechanical and AC equipment 50/45 dBC; multifamily interior 55/45 dBC…

Yes. Unincorporated Osceola County short-term rentals need a state DBPR vacation-rental license, a county short-term-rental license/inspection, and a Local Business Tax Receipt…

Osceola County levies a 6% Tourist Development Tax on the total rent for any stay under 180 days, on top of Florida's 6% sales tax. The person receiving the rent must collect and remit…

Florida preempts vacation-rental licensing to the state (FS 509.032(7)), so Osceola County can't ban rentals but does require registration: a county short-term-rental license, a Local…

Florida caps how tightly a county may limit occupancy, but Osceola County applies a maximum-occupancy standard through its short-term-rental license and building/fire code inspection…

Noise is one of the few areas Florida leaves to local control (FS 509.032(7)), so Osceola County's noise ordinance applies to short-term rentals like any home. Loud parties, amplified…

No on-site host is required, but Osceola County (like most Florida jurisdictions) expects a responsible party or 24-hour local contact reachable to handle complaints. Florida bars…

Florida lets counties regulate parking for vacation rentals as long as the rule applies uniformly to all homes. Osceola County requires off-street parking for licensed short-term…

No. Osceola County cannot require a short-term rental to be the owner's primary residence. Florida's FS 509.032(7)(b) bars counties from prohibiting vacation rentals or restricting…

None allowed. Osceola County cannot impose minimum-night stays or annual-night caps on vacation rentals. FS 509.032(7)(b) expressly bars counties from regulating the duration or…

Osceola County does not set a specific short-term-rental insurance mandate; Florida preempts vacation-rental licensing to the state (FS 509.032(7)). Owners should carry…

Florida law (FS 791.08) lets residents use consumer fireworks on New Year's Day, July 4, and December 31. Osceola County cannot ban fireworks on those three days. Any other day, only…

You may burn your own yard trash in unincorporated Osceola County when no burn ban is active, following Florida Forest Service rules under FS 590.125: pile no larger than 8 feet…

Small recreational backyard fires are allowed in unincorporated Osceola County when no burn ban is active, kept 25 feet from structures and constantly attended (NFPA 1). During a…

Recreational fire pits are allowed in unincorporated Osceola County only when no burn ban is in effect. Under the Florida Fire Prevention Code (NFPA 1), a recreational fire must stay…

Osceola County has no mandatory defensible-space or brush-clearance ordinance like California's. Vegetation clearance around homes is voluntary — the Florida Forest Service and county…

Florida law (FS 553.883) requires smoke alarms in dwellings. Since January 1, 2015, any newly installed or replacement battery-powered smoke alarm must use a nonremovable…

Residential propane in Osceola County follows the Florida Fire Prevention Code and NFPA 58 (Florida LP-Gas Code), enforced by FDACS under FS Chapter 527. Small portable cylinders need…

Osceola County does not use California-style mapped wildfire hazard zones with construction mandates. Instead, wildfire risk is managed through Florida Forest Service coordination and…

Backyard gas and charcoal grilling is allowed in Osceola County, and contained-grill cooking is even permitted during a burn ban. Under the Florida Fire Prevention Code, charcoal or…

Wood, pellet and charcoal smokers are treated as contained cooking devices in Osceola County. Backyard use at single-family homes is allowed, and contained cooking is even exempt from…

In unincorporated Osceola County, parking any vehicle in front of the dwelling or in the front yard is prohibited unless it's on the authorized, approved paved parking area. Boats, RVs…

Osceola County has no blanket overnight street-parking ban, but on-street parking requires an HOA-displayed permit, and you can't block driveways, park on vacant lots or the…

On county roads, Osceola County requires you to park off the traveled roadway when practicable, leaving a clear lane and 200 feet of visibility, and to park with right-hand wheels…

Osceola County bars parking or storing dual-rear-wheel commercial vehicles on unincorporated streets and rights-of-way except while loading. In affected residential areas, a large…

Osceola County prohibits leaving an abandoned, inoperable or discarded vehicle on private property in the unincorporated county for more than 7 days, and declares it a public nuisance…

In unincorporated Osceola County, residential driveways may not exceed 24 feet in width unless approved by conditional use, and driveway construction or widening requires a county…

On unincorporated county roads, Osceola County allows brief stopping to load or unload, but you can't park within 50 feet of a railroad crossing, in front of a driveway, within 15 feet…

Osceola County runs no residential curb address-painting program, and you can't paint or mark public curbs or right-of-way pavement on your own. Parking in the county right-of-way is…

Recreational vehicles in Osceola County are defined as travel trailers, camping trailers, truck campers and motor homes. They can't be parked in a front yard or on unpaved areas, and…

Osceola County has no ordinance banning home EV charging; a home charger is a permitted electrical improvement handled through the county building process. In condominiums, Florida law…

Osceola County prohibits barbed wire fencing except with bona fide agricultural activities or where mandated by law. All fences must be built of durable, uniform, weather-resistant…

Osceola County's Land Development Code requires fences to comply with siting and material standards, and the property owner must locate all property lines before building. A building…

In unincorporated Osceola County, fences in the front yard of single-family homes may not exceed four (4) feet. Rear and side yard fences have no numeric height cap in the code, but…

Osceola County's LDC makes the fence owner responsible for correctly locating all property lines before building. The county does not require you to share cost with a neighbor…

All fences in unincorporated Osceola County must be built of durable, uniform, weather-resistant, rust-proofed materials and kept in good condition. Front-yard single-family fences are…

The Osceola County Land Development Code does not set a separate retaining-wall height standard. Retaining walls are regulated as structures under the Florida Building Code and county…

Osceola County requires fences to be built of durable, uniform, weather-resistant, and rust-proofed materials, and to be maintained in good condition. Barbed wire is prohibited except…

In residential zoning districts inside the Urban Growth Boundary, Osceola County permits dogs, cats, ferrets, potbellied pigs, rabbits, pigeons and horses, but specifically prohibits…

Exotic and captive wildlife in Florida are licensed by the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), not Osceola County. Under FS 379.372, keeping Class I, II or III wildlife…

Osceola County sets no anti-bee ordinance; beekeeping in Florida is regulated by the state. Under FS 586.10, all beekeepers must register hives with the Florida Department of…

In unincorporated Osceola County, dogs must be under a competent adult's direct control by leash, cord, chain or other restraint whenever off the owner's premises, and even on the…

Osceola County does not ban any dog breed. Florida law (FS 767.14) lets local governments regulate dangerous dogs but bars breed-specific bans, so pit bulls and other breeds are legal…

Livestock is limited to agricultural-zoned land; it is prohibited in residential districts inside the Urban Growth Boundary. Osceola County impounds any livestock found running at…

Residents may keep up to 8 cats per residence in residential zones. Osceola County recognizes managed 'community cats' that are ear-tipped, sterilized and rabies-vaccinated, and…

Keeping more animals than the county allows or than can be cared for humanely is enforced through Osceola County's animal code and Florida's cruelty statute (FS 828.12). Failing to…

In residential zones inside the Urban Growth Boundary, Osceola County limits each residence to 12 domesticated animals total: no more than 4 dogs, no more than 8 cats, and no more than…

Osceola County has no blanket ban on feeding songbirds, but intentionally feeding certain wildlife is regulated by the state. Florida law prohibits feeding alligators and crocodiles…

Setbacks in unincorporated Osceola County depend on the zoning district. In residential districts, front setbacks run about 10-25 feet and rear setbacks up to 25 feet. Ancillary…

In unincorporated Osceola County residential zoning districts, residential structures are limited to three (3) stories under the Land Development Code district development standards…

Osceola County's Land Development Code controls buildable area in residential districts mainly through minimum lot size, density, and setbacks rather than a single lot-coverage…

Above-ground pools that hold water more than 24 inches deep are covered by Florida's pool-safety law just like inground pools, so they need a permit and at least one approved safety…

A building permit is required to build a residential swimming pool in unincorporated Osceola County, and the pool must pass final inspection with at least one state-mandated safety…

If you use a barrier to satisfy Florida's pool-safety law, it must be at least 4 feet high on the outside, surround the pool's perimeter, and be positioned so no permanent structure or…

Every new residential pool in unincorporated Osceola County must have at least one of five state safety features: a barrier, an approved safety cover, exit alarms…

Under Florida law, hot tubs and nonportable spas count as swimming pools, so a residential unit over 24 inches deep needs a permit and a safety feature. A locking safety cover is the…

Osceola County treats overgrown weeds and grass as a property-maintenance nuisance under Chapter 23. In the West 192 overlay, developed lots must stay at or below eight inches…

Osceola County does not require a permit to trim or prune a tree on your own residential lot. Under Florida law, no notice, permit, or fee applies when a certified arborist documents…

Osceola County's West 192 minimum-maintenance code caps developed-property lawns, grass, and weeds at eight inches. Countywide, tall grass and weeds are enforced as an overgrowth…

Florida preempts local tree-removal permits. Osceola County cannot require a permit, fee, or replanting to remove a tree on your own residential lot when a certified arborist documents…

Osceola County follows St. Johns River Water Management District rules: two days a week in daylight-saving time, one day a week in winter, no watering 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Odd and even…

State law protects your right to install Florida-Friendly, native, drought-tolerant landscaping. Neither Osceola County nor an HOA may prohibit it. County landscape-buffer rules for…

Residential backyard composting is allowed in Osceola County. Keep the pile contained and free of odor and pests so it does not become a Chapter 23 nuisance. Bona fide farm composting…

Rain barrels and residential rainwater harvesting are legal in Osceola County and across Florida, with no state permit for small-scale residential collection. Water management…

Osceola County does not ban residential artificial turf, but it is not a Florida-Friendly Landscaping category and receives no special state protection. Development-site landscaping…

No permit is required to remove a documented-danger tree on your own residential lot; Florida Statute 163.045 preempts it. Clearing trees for development, subdivision, or commercial…

Florida lets you make and sell certain non-hazardous foods from your Osceola County home kitchen without a state food permit, as a cottage food operation, as long as annual gross sales…

A home occupation in unincorporated Osceola County must meet strict LDC conditions: no employees beyond residents, no more than 25% of the floor area, no more than 25 square feet of…

Running a family day care home in Florida means registering with (or being licensed by) the Department of Children and Families. State law caps a family day care home at a maximum of…

No commercial sign is permitted for a home occupation in unincorporated Osceola County. The business must show no external evidence, so on-premises advertising signs for a home-based…

Osceola County's Land Development Code allows home occupations as an accessory use in residential zones, provided the business stays clearly incidental and subordinate to the home and…

Osceola County curbside customers must use county-issued waste and recycling carts. Carts may go out no earlier than 6:00 p.m. the night before pickup, must be out by 6:00 a.m. on…

In unincorporated Osceola County, letting a lot accumulate junk, trash, or garbage is a declared public nuisance. Owners must abate within 15 days of a code notice or the county abates…

Vacant lots in unincorporated Osceola County must stay clear of junk, debris, and overgrown weeds. Weeds and grass over 18 inches on unimproved lots within 500 feet of an occupied…

Osceola County's code has no dedicated garage-sale permit chapter; rules come from the Land Development Code as an accessory home use, plus sign limits. Sale signs may not be placed in…

Osceola County limits weeds, grass, and undergrowth to 12 inches on improved lots and 18 inches on unimproved lots within 500 feet of an occupied structure. Exceeding the limit is a…

Osceola County has no dedicated 'tiny home' category. A permanent tiny house is treated as a dwelling that must meet zoning density, setbacks and the Florida Building Code; RVs…

Unincorporated Osceola County allows one accessory living unit (ALU) or guest home per conforming lot. It may be rented only if the primary home has a homestead exemption, and only for…

Converting a garage into living space in unincorporated Osceola County is treated as an accessory living unit or added habitable area — it needs a building permit, must meet the…

In unincorporated Osceola County, ancillary accessory structures such as sheds must sit at least 5 feet behind the front entry of the main house and at least 5 feet from the rear and…

In unincorporated Osceola County, carports are accessory structures that are exempt from the 'behind the front entry' placement rule but must meet the required front and corner…

Osceola County collects carts at the curbside—within 3 feet of the curb, or within 6 feet of the pavement or public right-of-way where there is no curb. Carts go out no earlier than…

Osceola County provides once-a-week curbside collection of household waste, yard waste, bulky waste, and recyclables to residential units in the curbside area. Disposing of residential…

Osceola County curbside customers may set out white goods and up to 3 cubic yards of bulky waste at the curb. Bulky waste must be usual to housekeeping and previously used at the home…

Discarding or accumulating solid waste in unincorporated Osceola County anywhere but an authorized disposal site is prohibited by county code. Florida's litter law (FS 403.413) makes…

Osceola County provides weekly curbside recycling. If you have a county recycling cart, program recyclables must go only in that cart—not the trash cart—and only the materials the…

Garage, yard and similar sales are permitted as an accessory use throughout unincorporated Osceola County, limited to one per six-month period lasting no more than three days…

You may place political signs on your own private property in unincorporated Osceola County, but the Land Development Code bars all temporary signs — including political campaign…

Osceola County's Land Development Code requires exterior site lighting to be designed so it does not bleed onto adjacent properties or rights-of-way — photometrics must read 0.0 (or…

Despite sitting beside Walt Disney World and the dark Kissimmee chain-of-lakes, Osceola County's Land Development Code expressly states 'Dark Sky principles are not required.' Instead…

County parks, public boat ramps and other Osceola County recreational areas are open only during hours set by the county manager. Being on the premises outside those posted hours is…