[jkpender]

Is it possible to run a business from your home in the Villages? Are there any restrictions or rules in place that would prevent this? Personally, I would not want to buy in an area where someone would be allowed to open a business in the next driveway over.

[CaptJohn]

You should read the restrictions for each village. Many are different from the other. May depend on which village you are referring to. There are other threads on the subject. A search should find them.

[Bogie Shooter]

The restriction about home business is the same in all deed restrictions.
No home business.
That being said......a business where clients are coming going would be rather obvious. A business selling items on EBay not so abvious.

[downeaster]

It may go beyond The Villages. A lot of counties here have an ordinance forbidding businesses in residential homes. However, it is ignored in many instances. Hair dressers, Mary Kay, golf ball sales, etc., are to be found. The problem of ignoring the rule and setting up a business is it only takes a phone call to put a stop to it.

I don't know of any that are a problem for the neighbors, jkpender.

[travelguy]

there are many home-based businesses that do not involve people coming to your home or products being delivered to your home. and what is so different about a home-based business compared to someone who tele-commutes from home?

[buggyone]

Once again, common sense has to rule on the issue of running a business from your home.

If you set up a golf cart repair shop in your garage and have customers coming and going and working on golf carts in the driveway with a large inventory of used carts - neighbors will complain and you will have to shut it down.

If you are a claims representative for an insurance company and you are able to telecommute with an occasional trip to a central office - you have no clients coming to the house nor any stream of UPS trucks coming to the house - no one knows you have a business and there is no problem with anyone.

Just common sense about what kind of business and what kind of traffic is generated by the business will be the determining factor of having a business in your home.

[senior citizen]

Originally Posted by travelguy

there are many home-based businesses that do not involve people coming to your home or products being delivered to your home. and what is so different about a home-based business compared to someone who tele-commutes from home?

Exactly. So many businesses "tele-commute" as you say above....

Our son has an M.B.A. in Brand Marketing* and while visiting us over a five day Thanksgiving vacation.......in THE VILLAGES........used our host's lovely home office and wireless connection (with his own laptop and I-phone) to keep up with his corporate customers coast to coast......

*Brand Marketing executives assist large corporations in expanding their new product lines from conception, the research, marketing and advertising of said new product......." Sometimes conference calls are possible..........from home. Other times, these guys are "up in the air" like George Clooney was in that movie UP IN THE AIR.......which is most of the time........so that type of "work at home" is quite possible anywhere and no one would ever know.........it's quiet and private. The "at home part" would be when they are not physically at the client's home offices making a presentation........in other words, doing follow up conversations or conference calls from home.

I can also see a watchmaker or some other quiet type occupation who just needs a desk and some hand tools.......to repair say, antique watches, which are mailed to him........no problem there.

There could be many quiet home businesses..........with no customers coming to the door.

Or, any business that consists of computerized reports, etc........again, no customers to the home.........everything done over the internet and email.

[jblum315]

I believe the objection to home businesses applies only to the type of business that brings customers to park in your driveway or on your street. Am I right?

[EdV]

Originally Posted by senior citizen

....I can also see a watchmaker or some other quiet type occupation who just needs a desk and some hand tools.......to repair say, antique watches, which are mailed to him........no problem there.....

Not necessarily. The former owner of TOTV got called out for having TOTV related mail being delivered to his home address in TV. So the solution was to use a P.O. box outside TV for business related mail.

[My Daily Run]

I have someone in The Villages that is a tailor and I have been there picking up or trying on items when other people are picking up clothing but I think if the neighbors don't care...it's not any different then when I go to my knitting class that a friend teaches in her home...maybe 5 carts in her driveway at one time...just a social thing that many people do on a regular basis !!!

[rubicon]

Business in your home locatd in a retirement community is well, an oxymoron

[TrudyM]

Sounds like if you have a neighbor who doesn't like you, you would be in big trouble, if even having mail delivered gets you in hot water. What about all the home watch people who live in TV they are providing a valuable service.

The way it is written even one of the bedrooms or a golf garage used as an artist studio would be out. Which means there goes my plans for keeping myself from going nuts in retirement.

Can the regulations be amended to include a better definition of prohibited business? Seems I read were other items in the rules have been further defined over time.

[travelguy]

all you need is a jealous neighbor to 'turn you in' and there goes your home based business. this is pretty sad

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by TrudyM

Sounds like if you have a neighbor who doesn't like you, you would be in big trouble, if even having mail delivered gets you in hot water. What about all the home watch people who live in TV they are providing a valuable service.

The way it is written even one of the bedrooms or a golf garage used as an artist studio would be out. Which means there goes my plans for keeping myself from going nuts in retirement.

Can the regulations be amended to include a better definition of prohibited business? Seems I read were other items in the rules have been further defined over time.

Artist studio for personal use...........how is that a business?

[duffysmom]

Hundreds of artists living in TV have home based studios. It isn't a problem or against the rules.