CIRCLEVILLE, OH – July 16, 2025
A Circleville resident and small business owner sparked controversy at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting after delivering a five-minute outburst defending her flower shop operation, which city officials say is in violation of zoning codes.
Danielle Evans, who runs Fields of Laughter Flower Farm with her husband Mike, appeared before Council to protest the city’s removal of her promotional signs from public areas and accuse officials of targeting her business. Evans’ business, located at 574 Garden Parkway in the Sylvan Addition residential neighborhood, has raised concerns among neighbors and city officials due to operating a flower stand from her front yard—something not permitted under Circleville zoning law.
While Evans defended her operation as a charming, homegrown venture that offers “beautiful flowers” to the community, she is reportedly in violation of City Code Chapter 1101.01, which only permits certain temporary sales such as garage or yard sales in residential districts. These are limited to three times per year, for no more than three consecutive days. Operating a permanent retail shop in a residential zone is simply not allowed.
AGRICULTURE – The use of land for growing crops in the open, dairying, pasturage, horticulture, floriculture and necessary accessory uses, including structures necessary for carrying out farming operations and the residence of the person who owns or operates the farm and family thereof, provided such agricultural use shall not include: A. Maintenance and operation of commercial greenhouses or hydroponic farms, except in zoning Districts in which such uses are expressly permitted. B. Wholesale or retail sales as an accessory use, unless specifically permitted in a specific zoning District. C. Feeding garbage to animals, raising poultry or fur-bearing animals as a principal use, or operation or maintenance of a commercial stockyard or feed yard. D. Feeding, grazing or sheltering of animals or poultry in pens or confined areas.
Adding to the concern, Evans admitted that her signs promoting the business were placed around town, including in public rights-of-way—another violation of local zoning law. Circleville’s code clearly prohibits temporary signage in public spaces and off-premises business advertising without proper permits. According to city officials, Evans was contacted about the violations and asked to retrieve the signs from the city administrative building.
Witnesses at the building say Evans became verbally aggressive when staff attempted to explain the signage and zoning rules. Her visit, according to sources, escalated into a profanity-laced tirade lasting several minutes, but that wouldn’t be the last time the city would take a scolding from Ms. Evans, who then went on Facebook and came to the City Council meeting to aim at the City again.
During her public comments at the council meeting, Evans argued she was being unfairly “singled out” and that the city operated not in accordance to their roles.” City officials, however, clarified that these rules exist to prevent nuisances and ensure residential areas are protected—similar to noise, tall grass, or parking ordinances. Violations typically stem from citizen complaints. Evans doubled down on her signage defense, saying, “Others have done the same,” while not admitting to operating a business against city code and not accepting the code that other citizens in Circleville follow. Instead of understanding the city code, Evans has chosen to double down that the rules do not apply to her.
This is not the first time Circleville has dealt with business operations encroaching on residential zones. A previous case involved a woman who attempted to run a permanent yard sale from her North Pickaway Street home, which was ultimately shut down under similar code violations.
Despite the ongoing code breaches, the city has not formally shut down Fields of Laughter. Officials say the matter remains under review, and no penalties have yet been issued.
Fields of Laughter operates sometimes from 8 am to 8 pm at her home in the address listed above. Parking is in front of her home, in front of the neighbors’ homes.
UPDATE – In a telephone call today from Evans she said she admits that her signs in the public easements were her fault.
