Roadside Stands, Kiosks & Pushcart Operations in Dunedin

Published on February 13, 2026

Setting the Record Straight: Roadside Stands, Kiosks & Pushcart Operations in Dunedin

Dunedin is home to more than 1,000 small businesses and fostering entrepreneurship has always been a City priority. We create conditions and the right environment to help businesses thrive. Like any City, we also have rules in place that protect business owners, their neighbors, pedestrians, and the character of our neighborhoods and Downtown Dunedin. Those rules apply equally to everyone.

We want to address some inaccurate claims circulating on social media about a recent code compliance interaction involving a home-based business, Baking by the Sea, and clarify how our process works.

Situation Background

• On December 9, 2025, Code Compliance personnel observed a home-based business operating in a residential neighborhood beyond what is permitted underSection 107-22 of the City's Land Development Code. Specifically, the operation included a roadside stand in the driveway soliciting drive-up and vehicle pickup sales of baked goods, along with commercial signage displayed in the front yard.

• Home businesses are absolutely permitted in Dunedin. However, they must remain ancillary to the residence, fully contained within the home, and must not change the outside appearance of the property or create any visible evidence of a commercial operation — including signs or banners. These standards exist to protect the residential character of our neighborhoods and the property owners who live in them.

• City staff worked constructively with the owners. Code Compliance asked that the operation be scaled back to meet residential standards, and staff also helped the owners obtain a Business Tax Receipt so they could continue operating the portions of their business that were in compliance.

Exploring a Downtown Location

• The owners then explored relocating their stand to a property in Dunedin's downtown business core — which is an acceptable non-residential location for this type of structure and activity.

• City staff advised them that a Conditional Use approval would be required, which involves a public review process evaluating:

•    Aesthetics and architectural compatibility

•    Parking and traffic flow

•    Vehicle queuing and pedestrian safety

•    Health and safety standards

• These standards are in place to protect not only customers, but surrounding businesses, pedestrians, and the broader community. This Conditional Use approval process has been part of Dunedin's Land Development Code since February 19, 2015, and applies universally and consistently to all businesses citywide.

Correcting the Record on Cost

A social media post from Baking by the Sea described the City's permitting requirement as a "ransom" and cited a cost of "$3,000+" as the fee for operating. We want to address both of those claims directly.

1. The Conditional Use permit fee for a roadside stand, kiosk, food truck, or pushcart operation in Dunedin's downtown business core is $500 not $3,000. The City's fee scheduleis publicly available and applied consistently to every applicant.

2. The post also stated that "every solution we've offered has been met with a 'no,' and every attempt to comply has been met with a new bill." The City's record tells a different story. When a code compliance concern was identified in December 2025, City staff did not simply issue a citation — they worked with the owners to identify what was permitted and helped them obtain a Business Tax Receipt so the compliant portions of their home business could continue operating. When the owners expressed interest in a downtown location, staff explained the approval pathway clearly.

No application was ever submitted, and to date, the City has received no further inquiry about pursuing that approval.

The City of Dunedin serves all residents and businesses equitably. Suggesting that our code exists to favor developers over local families is simply not accurate. Our Land Development Code applies to every business — large and small — and our Community Development team works every day to help businesses of all kinds navigate it successfully.

Questions – Reach out to us

Businesses wishing to host a permitted roadside stand on their property must apply for use approval if located in the Downtown Core. For questions about roadside stands, pushcarts and kiosks, please contact Community Development at 727-298-3210 and/or email the City Zoning Administrator atKevin.Nurnberger@Dunedin.gov