Doing business on our streets.
 

Why can a resident run a business on our streets? There's a resident on Davenport, near the swimming pool that rents out 'Golfcarts" and has for over a year and nothing is being done. by the Villages Yes, I'm calling this resident and the Villages management out.

You have a valid concern and it's unfortunate that some people do not respect the community or their neighbors, however, if the business complies with Florida House Bill 403 2021 (CS/HB 403) then there's likely nothing your CDD can do about it.

You could also ask:

Why are people allowed to operate short term rentals?

Why are people allowed to work from home?

Running a business out of the house it typically thought of as an internal deed restriction, which can only be dealt with by the developer (but seemingly never is). At least one district (District 4) is looking in to whether they can enforce the external part of running a business without a change in Florida law. I believe it is still in the talking stages.

What about the Lady up the street that sells Avon, or the grandma that bakes and sells cupcakes, or the fellow across the way that sells furnace filters and so on, and so on, and so on???

That's a lot different than renting and fixing golf carts on your property.

You can "call them out" on this message board but have you tried calling Community Standards to report it?

There have been articles over the past year or so about a golf cart rental or repair business being run out of a home where the driveway is regularly full of carts. I believe action has been taken against that homeowner. Perhaps similar action can be taken against this one. But first, it must be reported.

Yet you can run an Airbnb business apparently without issue. But no small white cross in your front yard but a political flag is ok. Not a lot of consistency, huh?

100% consistent with the deed restrictions you signed at closing.

Big difference between use of the home, a flag, and a lawn ornament. What kind of one-size-fits-all regulation are you looking for?

The OP didn't note that they were doing repairs, only renting and a business is a business, selective enforcement should not be a consideration.

What selective enforcement?

As far as the deed restrictions in many of the areas go, a business is NOT a business. My deed restrictions prohibit only maintaining inventory or customer visits. If the carts being rented are sitting in the driveway (likely the case) then that would be prohibited in my neighborhood.

According to Florida State Statute Chapter 205 and City Code Chapter 11, the City of Wildwood requires any person operating a business within the city limits of Wildwood to first obtain a City Business Registration. This is in addition to any county or state license requirements.

Should be registered if within city limits. Contact city and county to see if they have license

I'd be more concerned about dogs doing business on my lawn....;)

Do you have some reason to believe that a home on Davenport is within the city of Wildwood?

Response says IF in the city limits. Still subject to County and State laws, if applicable.

My guess is most of us aren’t too concerned about any so called business until it’s next door or across the street from us.

If the person running the golf car rental business is parking a bunch of golf cars in their driveway there must be a process that gets it shut down. They finally got the guy on Journey in the village of Sanibel to stop it. It only took about 5 years.

Find a commercial building to rent if you want to run a business like that.
 

Definitely a lack of respect for your neighbors running that kind of business from your home in the villages.

Are we worried about a business bringing traffic to the neighborhood and/or with product on their driveway or in their garage?

Are we permitted to have a business that draws no traffic to our home - consultants, tech advisors, etc? Or a business that services customers at their home or business?
I have no problem with that.

I frankly don't want to live next door to a business that constantly had vehicles = be they car or golf carts - coming to their home on a regular basis.

Old neighborhood There was a house with 3 car garage and 6-9 cars parked in driveway sometimes in the road. The renter was running a private car service out of the home. Lease was for 6 months, not renewed because of multiple complaints to the owner.
Some cars were gone 15 plus hours a day, parking on narrow streets was a problem day or night. Washing vacuuming the cars almost daily
Thankfully the owner took care of the problem, stating had no idea a business was running out of the home.

Who would even know about the existence of this kind of business, let alone care?

Just wondering how this affects you.

Because all of the Villages are zoned short term. and for your second question about working from home also allowed as long as there is no walk in traffic or regular ups type trucks coming in every day. simple rules you can look up. Hope this helps

For a quick stop to this business if its as busy as you say and money and checks exchanged is just call your local IRS office and tell your story under the whistle blower disguise they will be on it in 1 day.

Why single out this guy? You have a high dollar business directly across the street from the pool. Those owners market online multiple properties for rent as "lifestylesvisits".

I don't want anyone repairing or storing golf carts on residential property - someone running a retail food operation or palm reading, anything that generates traffic & customer parking.

But what about someone with, say, a medical transcription or remote book keeping service that gets zero customers to the door? Would you have those banned?

Not all businesses are alike.

Where did the OP say he has addressed it with anyone at all? I asked that in post #6 but I don't see that there was any answer.

This is where reading comprehension comes in...

" nothing is being done by the Villages"...indicates the Villages has been notified and no action has been taken.

Does that help?

Less reading comprehension and more reading into what was written. Nothing in that sentence in any way indicates the OP has notified anyone. "nothing is being done by the Villages" is an observation, and may be an incorrect observation at that.

Home office type work? Who would know, or care, as long as zero impact to the neighbors. Authors, artists, can work anywhere and have zero impact on their surroundings.

Read your deed restrictions for, everything is spelled out there.

Selective enforcement is enforcing the restrictions on one business because it's found to be in violation but not others that are also in violation. Example, a customer comes to grandma's house to pickup freshly made cupcakes. No different than a customer coming to pickup a rented golf car, or any other business where a customer comes to pickup or deliver items.

Great. So where have those restrictions been enforced in some cases but not others? Plus, and this is quite important, what reason do we have to believe that enforcement activities are NOT happening? The situation has been there for a year? Okay but when was it reported (if at all)? And, I think the little white cross enforcement activities have been occurring for more than a year yet the cross is still there.

Totally agree!! Having equipment stored on the property or running a repair shop creates an eyesore. This is supposed to be (or at least perceived to be) an over 55 retirement community. I know that is not entirely true and many are still employed but running a business from a home here, other than a professional business that does not require multiple vehicles parked on the street, seems out of step with this community regardless of Florida law.

Grandma’s cupcakes are in the kitchen and not visibly parked outside the garage or on the street.
Maybe Grandma doesn’t have a sign outside advertising her business. I’m not going down that rabbit hole …..suffice to say if the community has rules or standards regarding the operation of a business from a home, it should be enforced, especially if a resident reports the violation. In my opinion (probably not a very popular one) I agree with the little old ladies with the note pads reporting violations. Obviously the Villages doesn’t have a monitoring mechanism in place

Don't forget the political flags!

They are forgettable. Nothing in the deed restrictions about flags unless they state that there are no restrictions.

Unless those golf carts and the business sign are all physically located ONLY INSIDE the house/garage, "internal deed restrictions" don't even matter. The signs would be against external deed restrictions, and running a business renting machinery and/or vehicles without a permit would be a licensing and zoning issue with the town and/or county. Davenport is zoned exclusively residential and not mixed-use or commercial. So they wouldn't have gotten a permit, and therefore are violating the zoning code.

This very issue was being discussed when I first joined Talk of the Villages about 18-19 years ago. We do have deed restrictions. But some folks have service businesses like a travel agency that isn't readily apparent to anyone. I guess if it is annoying it will be reported. If not it won't.

It doesn't matter if you report it or not. Internal deed restrictions are rarely ever enforced, and the Villages LLC (the Developer), who is responsible for enforcement, have intentionally chosen a hands-off approach to internal deed restrictions.

Therefore, the ONLY recourse you have with any measure of success, would be to go after people who are running a business without a permit, or who are violating zoning regulations. You do that through the county and/or town zoning and permit departments.

Government likes their business license fees. Check the State website for registration in addition to county and city, if applicable.

Businesses should be collecting and remitting sales tax on taxable transactions. That will get you in maximum hot water if not compliant. Non filers have no statute of limitations.

Per site instructions, you can File a complaint against an individual you suspect of performing Unlicensed Activity

The professions and businesses regulated by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation and the disciplinary action that may be taken is administrative in nature, e.g., reprimand, fine, restriction of practice, remedial education, administrative cost, probation, license suspension or license revocation.

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