Regulations for Home Occupations and Resident Businesses in Kissimmee

Residents of the City of Kissimmee may conduct a business from their home as a "home occupation," provided the activity remains subordinate to the residential use and adheres to strict operational standards. Standard home occupations are permitted in all residential districts but prohibit client visits and signage, while extended home occupations are restricted to specific districts, allow limited clients, and require a conditional use permit.

Standard Home Occupations in the City of Kissimmee

A standard home occupation is defined by the City of Kissimmee as a business conducted entirely within a residential or accessory structure by the resident of the premises [Section 14-6-7.A]. These businesses are intended to be invisible to the neighborhood and must comply with the following requirements:

Personnel: Only residents of the dwelling may engage in the business. The City of Kissimmee prohibits the use of outside employees or volunteer workers, though family members residing on the premises may participate [Section 14-6-7.A.1].
Space Allocation: The business activity cannot occupy more than 10% of the gross floor area of the residence's ground floor. This measurement excludes areas not intended for living quarters, such as attached garages, open porches, or similar spaces [Section 14-6-7.A.2].
Client Presence and Advertising: No clients are permitted on the residential site. Furthermore, the City of Kissimmee forbids any signage to advertise the business on the premises. Residents may not include their home address or location in any advertisements, including media or telephone directories [Section 14-6-7.A.3; Section 14-6-7.A.11].
Retail and Storage: Standard home occupations cannot involve on-premises retailing or wholesaling of stock. While the delivery of products to consumers off-site is permitted (e.g., via mail order), no outdoor storage of materials, equipment, or goods is allowed [Section 14-6-7.A.5; Section 14-6-7.A.12].

Extended Home Occupations

The City of Kissimmee allows for "Extended Home Occupations," which are service-based businesses that may have a limited client presence. These are subject to more rigorous location and permitting requirements [Section 14-6-7.B].

District and Location Restrictions

Extended home occupations are not permitted throughout the entire City of Kissimmee. They are strictly limited to the following:

Permitted Districts: Only the RB-2 (Medium Density Residential-Office) and RPB (Residential Professional Business) zoning districts [Section 14-6-7.B.1].
Roadway Frontage: The residential site must have direct frontage on arterial or collector roadways as designated by the Kissimmee Comprehensive Plan [Section 14-6-7.B.2].
Prohibited Areas: The City of Kissimmee prohibits extended home occupations within the Form-Based Code area and any city-designated historic preservation district [Section 14-6-7.B.3].

Operational Requirements for Extended Businesses

Extended home occupations must obtain a conditional use permit and adhere to the following standards:

Requirement	Standard for Extended Home Occupations
Permit Type	Conditional Use Permit [Section 14-3-29]
Floor Area Limit	Maximum 10% of the ground floor gross floor area
Signage	One non-illuminated placard, maximum one square foot, near the main entrance
Business Nature	Must be completely service-oriented; no retail/wholesale allowed
Client Visits	Limited client presence permitted

Prohibited Home Occupations in the City of Kissimmee

Certain business types are deemed incompatible with residential neighborhoods and are expressly prohibited as home occupations by the City of Kissimmee [Section 14-6-7.C]:

Restaurants and food service.
Funeral homes.
Kennels and veterinary clinics.
Dance or exercise studios.
Repair shops (for small household appliances, clothing, or personal items).
Beauty and barber shops (if customers visit the home).
Cabinet or furniture manufacturing, including assembly, repair, or upholstery.
Vehicle repair of any kind (including bodywork and detailing).

General Performance Standards

All residentially-based businesses in the City of Kissimmee must ensure their operations do not negatively impact the neighborhood.

Nuisances: Residents must not use chemical, mechanical, or electrical equipment that is not normally associated with domestic or household use. The business must not create noise, vibration, odors, smoke, or electrical interference [Section 14-6-7.A.4].
Traffic and Parking: Traffic generated by a standard home occupation should not exceed 10 vehicle trips per day. Residents must provide off-street parking for any business-related vehicles [Section 14-6-7.A.9].
Deliveries: Business-related deliveries (excluding standard USPS mail) may not occur more than twice per day [Section 14-6-7.A.10].
Licensing: Residents must apply for a City of Kissimmee business tax receipt (BTR). The application must include a letter of intent stating the business will comply with all home occupation standards [Section 14-6-7.A.13].

Family Day Care Homes

The City of Kissimmee classifies family day care homes as home occupations. These facilities may display one non-illuminated placard (maximum one square foot) and must ensure they do not cause on-street parking congestion. They are subject to inspections by the City of Kissimmee fire and building divisions [Section 14-6-4; Section 14-6-7.A.14].

Sections Cited

Section 14-3-29 - Conditional uses
Section 14-6-4 - Family day care homes
Section 14-6-7 - Home occupations
Section 14-7-22 - Automobile parking ratios