St. Petersburg requires a Business Tax Receipt (BTR) for all home occupations. The use must be incidental to the residence, with no external evidence of the business, no non-resident employees, and limited customer traffic.
Under St. Petersburg City Code Chapter 16 (Land Development Regulations) Section 16.50.360, home occupations are permitted accessory uses in residential zones. Standards include: no more than 25 percent of the dwelling floor area devoted to business, no employees other than residents of the home, no external signage, no stock in trade sold on premises, and no alteration of the residential character of the property. A city Business Tax Receipt must be obtained annually through the St. Petersburg Business Tax Division. A Pinellas County BTR is also required. Certain uses are prohibited outright including auto repair, kennels, medical offices, and retail sales. Customer visits are limited and may not cause parking or traffic problems for neighbors.
Operating without a BTR: 250 dollar fine plus back taxes. Code violations for impacts on neighborhood: daily fines up to 500 dollars through the Code Enforcement Board.
See how St. Petersburg's home occupation permits rules stack up against other locations.
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