Dunedin's 2025 Business Survey Results

Published on September 03, 2025

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Written by: Nicole Delfino, Strategy & Sustainability Manager

Every two years, the City of Dunedin asks its business community to share feedback through a Business Survey. This year’s survey addressed a long-standing challenge: ensuring that responses represented the full spectrum of Dunedin’s business community. We saw significant growth not only in response rate (280 participants, representing a 90% increase), but also in the diversity of locations and business types. Thanks to City staff efforts and a strong communication plan, response rates increased across key business corridors such as S.R. 580, Patricia Avenue, the Causeway area, and Alt 19. Responses came from restaurants and bars, service-based businesses, manufacturers, and more. Thank you to the many business owners, managers, and entrepreneurs who shared your experiences. Your input helps City leadership plan for the future and ensure Dunedin continues to be a great place to do business.

Why Businesses Choose Dunedin

Survey results reaffirm what makes Dunedin unique. Business leaders highlighted Dunedin’s safe and welcoming atmosphere, walkable downtown, small-town charm, and strong quality of life. More than half of the respondents pinpointed low crime, the City’s positive image, and supportive local government attitudes as top reasons businesses choose Dunedin.

How Businesses Feel

  • 82% rated Dunedin as a good or excellent place to operate a business.
  • 91% rated quality of life as good or excellent, with no one rating it poor.
  • 92% said they feel safe in Dunedin.

City Services and Support

Businesses expressed strong satisfaction with essential services such as Fire/EMS, utilities, and police. However, areas such as permitting and code enforcement received more mixed reviews, with business owners noting the need for clearer communication and more consistent processes.

On overall support, 63% of respondents said they are satisfied with the City’s efforts to support growth and development. Litter collection, street cleaning, and street lighting received high marks, while businesses would like to see more efforts toward retaining existing businesses, attracting visitors during the off-season, and easing traffic congestion.

Growth, Infrastructure, and Resilience

Survey responses reflected a balance of optimism and concern:

  • 50% said Dunedin’s growth is “about right,” though 35% believe the pace is too fast.
  • Parking availability, traffic, and housing affordability were the most frequently cited challenges related to growth.
  • Nearly half (49%) said a new downtown parking garage would positively impact their business.
  • While 91% of businesses feel somewhat prepared for the next storm, only 38% feel “very prepared,” with many requesting faster permitting and stronger drainage/flooding solutions.

Parking and traffic concerns were primarily voiced by downtown businesses, while businesses outside of downtown reported fewer challenges in those areas. Cross-section analysis of the data shows that lower ratings for parking and traffic largely reflect downtown experiences. This aligns with findings from the 2024 Citizen Survey, which showed that parking and traffic become more challenging downtown, especially during weekends and events.

Looking Ahead

The 2025 survey shows that Dunedin’s business community is engaged, optimistic, and proud to call our City home. At the same time, the results point to opportunities: improved communication, attention to housing affordability, expanded support beyond downtown, and careful management of growth.

The survey has given city staff valuable direction on areas of concern. Responses provide the opportunity to examine specific issues more closely and identify solutions. Staff will present an action plan in the coming months, which will inform annual departmental planning and budget preparation.

City leaders are grateful for the feedback and remain committed to working with the business community to strengthen Dunedin’s economy while protecting the character and quality of life that make our city so special.

View the full 2025 Business Survey Presentation and Report for additional details and analysis.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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