Do I need a permit for screen enclosure or pool cage in Clearwater?
Yes. In Florida, screen enclosure or pool cage generally requires a permit, and Clearwater is no exception.
Building a new aluminum screen enclosure or pool cage requires a building permit statewide, and the frame must be designed to Florida Building Code wind-load provisions with signed and sealed engineering. Replacing only the screen mesh is usually not permitted work, but new construction or structural frame repair is. A pool cage that serves as the pool safety barrier has added requirements.
Florida and local notes for Clearwater
Site-specific engineered wind-load drawings are effectively required for a new enclosure. Setbacks, easements, and HOA rules still apply. Re-screening mesh only is generally exempt; structural work is not. Pinellas County's own permitting office is the Building and Development Review Services Department, reachable on (727) 464-3888 at https://pinellas.gov/applying-for-a-building-permit/. Its online permit portal is https://aca-prod.accela.com/pinellas/default.aspx. It issues permits for the unincorporated county. If your city does not run its own building department, this is the office that will handle the job. Contractor licensing here is countywide, which is unusual. The Pinellas County Construction Licensing Board, established in 1973, regulates construction and home improvement contractors practicing in Pinellas County including all local municipalities, so whoever you hire needs to be licensed through it no matter which city you are in. Reach it on (727) 582-3100 or pcclb@pinellas.gov, 440 Court St, 1st Floor, Clearwater. Clearwater publishes a Screen/Pool Enclosure Permit Checklist requiring two copies of engineering drawings and a marked survey. Under CDC Sec. 3-202.E, a screen enclosure around a pool is exempt from the 15 foot accessory height limit but cannot exceed the height of the house. Only licensed contractors can apply through Accela. Homeowners submit in person at 100 S. Myrtle Ave.
Documents you may need
- Permit applicationLikely required
- Signed and sealed engineered drawings with wind-load calculationsLikely required
- Site plan showing setbacksLikely required
- Aluminum member and anchoring specificationsSometimes required
- Contractor license number issued or recognised by the countyLikely required
- City of Clearwater Building Permit Application (Accela portal for licensed contractors)Likely required
- Two copies of a current survey marked with the enclosure location (three if over a new or extended slab)Likely required
- Two copies of engineering drawingsLikely required
- Land Clearing and Grubbing Permit when the enclosure goes over an extended or newly poured slabSometimes required
- Recorded Notice of Commencement when a contractor's price is over $5,000Sometimes required
Possible inspections
- Footing or slab inspection for a new slab
- Framing or structural inspection
- Final inspection
- Slab inspection (code 106) where a new slab is poured
- Building final (code 110)
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need a permit for screen enclosure or pool cage in Clearwater?
- Yes. In Florida, screen enclosure or pool cage generally requires a permit, and Clearwater is no exception. The documents and inspections sections on this page list what the building department typically asks for.
- Who issues the permit in Clearwater?
- The local building department for Clearwater handles permitting. This page lists its contact details and online portal. Your mailing city is not always the permitting authority, so confirm the jurisdiction before you apply.
- How do I find out the exact requirements for my project?
- Run the free PermitRoadmap check for your specific project and answers. It returns the likely permits, documents, inspections, and next steps, each linked to its official source.
PermitRoadmap is an independent informational service and is not affiliated with any city, county, state agency, or permitting authority. Results are informational and do not replace confirming requirements with the local permitting authority.