Building and Permitting Servicest Department
401 Park Avenue South
Winter Park, FL 32789
Phone: 407-599-3237
Fax: 407-599-3499
www.cityofwinterpark.org
Business Certificate &
Zoning Approval
Guidelines
PLEASE READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY
STEP 1: Contact the Zoning Division at 407-599-3324 to confirm that your location is properly zoned for the
type of business you will be conducting. It is imperative that this is done first. If the property is not zoned
properly the occupation/business activities will not be permitted/approved.
Once you have received
confirmation that the use is permitted then you may proceed to fill out the Business Certificate Application.
STEP 2: If your requested use is modifying or changing the use of the previous operator/tenant additional
information is required. You will need to contact the building department at 407-599-3237 before
proceeding to the next step. Additionally, if you want to operate one of the following businesses, the
approval process may take up to 48 hours for completion, additional information may be needed and staff
may need to perform a site visit prior to approval.
· Restaurant, bars, taverns or cocktail lounges
· Alcoholic Beverage sales/consumption as part of your business
· Salon/Barber Shop services, including skin treatments
· Schools/Kindergartens co-locating in residential zoning districts
· Motor vehicle sales and or repair, including scooters or motor cycles
· Day Care, including as a home occupation
· Assisted Living Facility/Services
· Businesses with Drive-in's
· Any non-retail or service business on the ground floor of the Park Avenue area.
· Request for outdoor/café seating (requires separate permit through the Code Enforcement Division)
· Any request for business changing the use that would require an increase in parking (see City of
Winter Park Land Development Code section 58-86. Off-street parking and loading regulations)
STEP 3: Contact the City of Winter Park Fire Inspector's office to request a Business Certificate Inspection.
Applicants may schedule an inspection by calling 407-599-3612 and leaving a voice message. WPFD will
attempt to return all calls within 2 business days. A Fire Inspectors Report is required for applications and
for any new State Licensed employees. The copy of the Fire Inspectors report must be dated within the
last 6 months.
STEP 4: Submit in-person the completed application, copy of Fire Inspectors Report, and, if applicable, a
copy of your State of Florida License to the Building Department. Submitting an application does not permit
the applicant to operate or engage in business. The City must process and approve the application. For
questions please call 407-599-3237 or by e-mail at permits@cityofwinterpark.org.
FEES
·New Applicants - $55.00 one time processing fee for new applications plus the yearly business certificate
fee (Please call 407-599-3237 to verify this amount).
· Address Change Only - $45.00 fee with a new application and a current fire inspection dated within the
last 6 months reflecting the changes that have occurred.
· Name Change Only - $5.00 with a new application and a current fire inspection dated within the last 6
months reflecting the changes that have occurred
GENERAL BUSINESS CERTIFICATE INFORMATION
Applicants can begin operating the proposed business only after receiving final approval by the City Zoning,
Building and Fire Departments, and issuance of City and County Business Certificates.
If renovation or new construction is being done, please make sure all necessary permits are obtained
BEFORE proceeding with the work. When work is completed a Certificate of Occupancy must be
obtained prior to receiving a Business Certificate.
Renewal year begins October 1st every year. You are responsible for paying for the renewal of a business
certificate each year; otherwise a penalty will be assessed for late payment. Additionally, any previous zoning
approvals could be null and void.
Please notify the City if any of the following changes occur concerning your business:
· Change of ownership
· Change of business name
· Change of address
· Change of nature of business
· Termination of business
NOTE: Orange County Business Tax Receipt Information: In addition to the City of Winter Park Business
Certificate, Orange County Florida also requires a business tax receipt. Information on that process can be
found here: http://www.octaxcol.com/Business%20Tax%20Receipt.htm or call 407-836-5650.
NOTE: Orange County Health Department Information: State laws of Florida require that applicants
applying for a business certificate to operate bars not serving food, civic/fraternal organizations, movie
theaters, foster homes for more than one child and schools must receive prior inspection and approval from
the Orange County Health Department, 823 West Central Avenue, Orlando. Phone # 407-836-2600.
NOTE: Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation Information: Laws also require
hotels, motels, apartment houses, rooming or boarding houses, restaurants and all other places serving,
handling, processing, preparing and selling food products and drinks must receive prior approval from the
Department of Business Regulation, Division of Hotels and Restaurants at 850-487-1395 or visit
www.Myflorida.com.
NOTE: State Licensing: Businesses requiring state licensing or businesses serving alcoholic beverages are
required to show proof of state licensure and for alcoholic beverages are required to obtain a city and state
beverage license.
NOTE: Adequate Pollution Control Facilities: After any business certificate is issued, a copy of the
application shall be forwarded to the environmental division, public works department, and if alteration of
occupational activities would create pollution problems, modification of the facilities such as grease traps and
other pretreatment facilities may be required. Where facilities require updating or additional equipment to meet
pollution standards, such changes shall be made prior to the renewal of any business certificate. For more
information visit www.Myflorida.com and search Chapter 102, Article I, Division 1
BUSINESS CERTIFICATE APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
About The Form - We have designed the application to make your business certificate filing as simple and
clear as possible. The form can be filed out by hand or directly from a computer. Applicant must have the
latest version of Adobe PDF to complete the application on a computer.
Additional city forms may need to be completed based on applicant's needs. Corporations must also complete
the 'Corporate Information Form'. If you desire outdoor seating in public rights-of-way, you must complete a
'Sidewalk Cafe Permit'. For questions please call 407-599-3237 or by e-mail at permits@cityofwinterpark.org.
Section A - Business Information
Applicant must complete all questions in this section. This section should contain the applicant's business
information. An incorrect or missing driver's license number can delay or deny your application.
Section B - Mailing Information
Applicant must complete this section based on where they wish to receive correspondence.
· Question 7: Address that the city would use to send official correspondence.
· Question 8: Enter the best phone number we can reach you at.
· Question 9: Enter an e-mail address that is regularly checked.
Your privacy and the security of your e-mail address is important to us. The information we collect for
is maintained in a secure environment and is not reported or used in any manner that would reveal
personally identifiable information. It will not be released to outside parties unless the release is
legally required in connection with investigations by law enforcement or other legal proceedings, or in
accordance with the Florida Public Information Act.
Section C - Business Activity (required)
Applicant must complete all questions in this section.
· Question 10: Check the box that closely reflects your type of business.
· Question 11: Describe in detail your business.
· Question 12: Enter your Federal Tax ID Number. An incorrect or missing FEIN can delay or deny your
application.
· Question 13: Enter your State License number. If you do not have one, please enter N/A.
· Question 14: Enter the total square footage that you use for your business.
· Question 15: Enter the total number of employees (full and part time) that work in your business.
· Question 16: Enter the total number of parking spaces assigned to your business.
Section D - Business Activity
Complete questions as it applies to your specific business. Enter N/A on sections that do not relate to your
business. An incorrect or missing information can delay or deny your application.
· Question 25: If your business has or will have outdoor seating in public right-of-way, you must also
complete a "Sidewalk Cafe Permit" form. Having outdoor seating without a permit may
result in fines.
Section E - Business Changes
This section should only be completed if the applicant needs to report any changes in ownership, address, or
business name. If you are requesting a change in ownership, you must provide the new owner's driver's
license number. An incorrect or missing driver's license number can delay or deny your application.
Disclosure and Signature
Applicant must read the application's disclosure carefully. This form must be signed in front of a notary public.
The Building and Code Enforcement Department provides free notary services for applicants submitting city
forms.
Building and Code Enforcement Department
401 Park Avenue South
Winter Park, FL 32789
Phone: 407-599-3237
Fax: 407-599-3499
www.cityofwinterpark.org
Business Certificate
Application
Thank you for applying for a City of Winter Park business certificate. The applicant may not operate or engage in
business until the department has processed and approved the application. Applicant's wishing to change the use of the
previous business must review the Business Certificate and Zoning Instruction Guidelines. Corporations must also
complete the 'Corporate Information Form'. All applications must be accompanied with a fire inspection report dated with
the last six months. To schedule a fire inspection please call 407-599-3612. Incomplete applications will not be accepted
and/or will be returned. For questions please call 407-599-3237 or by e-mail at permits@cityofwinterpark.org.
THIS APPLICATION IS FOR:
New Business
Change of Use
Change of Ownership
Change of Address
A. Business Information
1. Name of Business (DBA):
2. Business Owner / Applicant Name:
3. Business Site Address:
STATE
ZIP CODE
STATE
ZIP CODE
STREET
CITY
4. Business Phone No.:
5. Owner Date of Birth.:
6. Business Owner / Applicant Driver's License No.:
B. Mailing Information
7. Mailing Address:
STREET
CITY
8. Contact Phone No.:
9. E-Mail Address:
C. Business Activity (required)
10. Business Type:
Retail
Service
Contractor
Wholesale
Other
11. Description of Business:
12. Federal Employer ID No. (FEIN) or SSN:
13. State License No.:
Expiration date:
14. Business Total Sq. Footage:
15. No. of Employees:
16. No. of parking spaces assigned to the business:
(CONTINUE ON NEXT PAGE)
D. Business Activity (complete if applicable)
17. Contractor's License No.:
Expiration date:
18. No. of rooms (hotels & apartments):
19. No. of salon chairs:
20. No. of amusement/vending machines:
21. No. of real estate agents:
FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS/RESTURANTS ONLY:
22. State Restaurant No.:
23. State Alcoholic Beverage License No.:
Expiration date:
25. Total No. of outdoor cafe seats:
24. Total No. of interior seats:
E. Change of Ownership (complete if applicable)
26. Change Business Name to:
27. Change Business Address to:
STREET
CITY
STATE
ZIP CODE
28. Transfer Business Ownership to:
29. New Business Owner Driver's License #:
I hereby certify that the foregoing statements are true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief under penalties
of perjury. I acknowledge receipts of the instructions sheets issues by the City of Winter Park regarding this application. I
acknowledge that this business is governed by the City of Winter Park Code and I am responsible for becoming familiar
with the code and abiding by its requirements. I further understand that the acceptance of payment for this application
does not constitute authority to do business prior to completion of all inspections and issuances of the license.
Applicant's Signature
Date
Print Name
SUBSCRIBE AND SWORN BEFORE ME THIS
DAY OF
, 20
Notary
Public's
Signature:
Print
My
NOTARY SEAL:
Name:
Commission
Expires:
Personally known or ID presented:
CITY USE ONLY
Date Received:
Parcel ID #:
NAICS Code:
No
Change to:
Is this a zoning change:
Yes
Current Zoning:
STAFF SIGN-OFF APPROVAL:
Comments, restrictions, conditions, etc:
DATE OF APPROVAL: