zoning

[Jayd]

I recently went to the City Hall in the town where I live (population 10,000) asking about starting about a lawn mowing business--the regulations, etc. Well I was bounced around and eventually was sent to the Building Inspections Dept. They gave me a two page handout of written regulations about "home businesses". They said I probably would not be allowed to do lawn mowing, I guess since I live in an apartment, would have to store equipment in a rental garage, etc. They said for $75 I could visit with the Board of Adjustments but they would tell me I could not do lawns because it wasn't a "hardship". WHAT ??? What does zoning have to do with any of this and what is this "hardship" stuff. How can I get around this paper and red tape? I can't believe I can't run a little rinky dink lawn mowing service in a small town because I live in an apartment ?!?? Any help is appreciated.

[GrassMaster]

Welcome to the Lawn service Forum Community, Jayd!

Hello:

It sounds to me like the Apartment thing is more of an Excuse more than anything else?

"What you got to be a Homeowner to be able to cut grass?"
or...
"You must be a Hardship Case" Give me a Break?

Don't get me wrong but sounds like some backwards thinking people that you have at the City Hall!

There are Rich People that cut Grass & there are Rich Folks that Clean Offices at night! Just like there are Multi Millionaires that Own Roto Rooter Franchises & Own Body Shop - Automobile Detail Shops!

I'm just a Dumb Redneck from JawJa, but if I was you & that's what you want to do, I would just go to where you buy business Licenses at for that County & if you don't know where it's at, Please don't go back to City Hall, Ask another Service Related Business Owner.

In fact ask a couple of them, find ones that has vehicles used in the business & ask them about any kind of Special Permits.

After you cut grass in that area a while & do a Good Job, You can drop by City Hall & they call You Mr. Jayd.

It also sounds like they don't know much about the Green Industry, there is money to be made cutting grass & then $ome!

I had a Guy at an Insurance company treat me like I was a Moron, his office was next to a Arbys, he was laughing asking me if I could afford Insurance & how Much Grass I was Cutting?

I asked him to just look out the window & a few minutes late my other 2 trucks came pulling up, 3 Trucks & 3 Dual Axle Trailers sitting there, & 3 employees in each truck.

All of a sudden my name was Mister & I was finally Offered a seat!

I can not stand folks that judge something before they know or understand it. Those are People that have Problems!

A hardship case is someone that has a job with some big high paying Cooperation that has no promise that they will be opening their doors tomorrow for business!

Self Employed people always have a job as long as they want one! A True Fact!

It does sound like you need a Building Somewhere to keep your equipment, The writing is on the wall!

Honest I would find a few others that own Businesses & talk to them & If you are serious about it, then find a Shop or Storage place!

[mjlawncare]

Go back to city hall and ask them morons to explain to you like you are 6 years old , How you can obtain a business license
and state tax id number to start your own business.
Looks like someone in the city hall has a lawn business already and don't want any competition. Good Luck :p
By the way where is this at? ,( Russia, Bahgdad,China?)

[Scaper-S2k]

It may not be the fact that you can't run the biz because you live in an apartment. I would assume they were thinking ahead and where you would be parking the equipment. Many places don't want commercial vehicles and equipment parked in residential areas unless they are there to work. My neighborhood has a sign that says you can't park a motor-home in the driveway for an extended period of time......or a trailer for that matter.

[CrissBrothersLLC]

like scaper said, i live in cincy too and most of the neighborhoods are so regulated by homeowners associations that they basically run the towns. I have to keep my equipment in a large rental space and do business out of my home office. Sounds like you should look at finding a small office/garage space to rent. As far as the business license and tax stuff goes, most of that is handled through the state. A few phone calls to the state irs and to the business offices will get you all the info you need. Sounds like someone at city hall is full of it or doesnt want another landscaper around taking away business.....

[Maddog]

I tend to go with Scapers thinking. It is probably where you are going to store your equipment that is the issue.

[maple city lawn care]

Find a friend or your parents or someone who owns a home and use that address (with their permission). See if that gets you anywhere.

Sounds like they are giving you the run around to me.

[blindarrow]

Check around town for business centers. They look like storage places, but they basically rent you the said space to run a business out of. It's perfect for a LCO, mainly because it's like a shop/trailer storage spot. Some even have showers/bathrooms.

[MGO]

Ask them to reference the actual LAW that they are using as an excuse not to give you a business license. If they can't do so...then tell them you want to speak to their legal department.....you may need to consult a business attourney.

I ran into this one time where the people I was dealing with had it COMPLETELY WRONG......and their EGO would not allow me to convinve them otherwise. My attourney solved that problem real quick with a simple phone call!

Beurocrats suck!

[RRS]

Jayd,

I had to do this when I started my business because I lived in an apartment, and I live in a city with over 100,000 pop. Before I could obtain a business license I had to go to the zoning dept. and fill out a form that stated there would be no business conducted onsite, no storage of equipment, and no customer parking. Basically that it would be strictly an office. It cost $50 and had to be signed by the landlord. It's called a zoning compliance form I still have a copy of it.

[jfishenter]

Apparently the laws are are more complex where you are, or you made the mistake of "asking" about starting a business. I had never had a business license, but recently had to get one for for a contract that I was pursuing. I just went to City Hall and told them that I needed a business License. They gave me a form to fill out describing the type of business, the business name, and adress. I paid a $50.00 fee and walked out with a temperary license and recieved my regulary license a couple of weeks laterin the mail.