Who issues the permit in St. Petersburg?

The local building department for St. Petersburg 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.

Do I need a permit for addition or structural alteration in St. Petersburg?

Permit required

Yes. In Florida, addition or structural alteration generally requires a permit, and St. Petersburg is no exception.

A building permit is required for any addition and for structural alterations such as removing or altering load-bearing walls, changing the footprint, or altering the roof structure. The Florida Building Code only exempts ordinary minor repairs that do not cut into walls or remove load-bearing supports, so structural work is never exempt. Additions usually trigger zoning review and, in flood areas, elevation requirements.

Local and county notes for St. Petersburg

Structural work is specifically excluded from the HB 803 $7,500 exemption. Signed and sealed engineered plans are commonly required. Additions often trigger setback, lot-coverage, and floodplain review. Any addition or structural alteration requires a full City of St. Petersburg permit with plan review, and the Building & Permitting office asks for at least two complete plan sets (minimum 11x17). If the home is in the Special Flood Hazard Area, the city applies its 49% substantial improvement rule: when the cumulative cost of the work reaches 49% of the structure's pre-improvement market value, the whole structure must be brought into current floodplain compliance (which can mean elevation). New exterior walls, windows, and roofing on the addition must meet Florida Building Code wind-borne debris requirements with Product Approval. 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. State legislation has been changing which specialty trades are licensed locally rather than by the state, so confirm the current licence type your trade needs before signing a contract.

Documents you may need

Permit applicationLikely required
Signed and sealed construction and structural plansLikely required
Site plan or surveyLikely required
Florida Energy Code forms for conditioned spaceSometimes required
Notice of commencementSometimes required
Building permit application submitted through the City of St. Petersburg ePlan Review portalrequired
Two complete sets of construction plans (minimum 11x17), plus a site plan and structural detailsrequired
Product Approval for exterior openings and roofing on the addition (wind-borne debris region)Likely required
Floodplain substantial improvement / 49% rule worksheet if the home is in the Special Flood Hazard AreaSometimes required
Contractor licence number issued or recognised by the countyLikely required

Possible inspections

Footing and foundation inspection
Framing inspection, with rough electrical, plumbing, and mechanical
Insulation inspection
Final inspection
Foundation / slab inspection
Framing and rough electrical, plumbing, and mechanical inspections

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit for addition or structural alteration in St. Petersburg?: Yes. In Florida, addition or structural alteration generally requires a permit, and St. Petersburg is no exception. A building permit is required for any addition and for structural alterations such as removing or altering load-bearing walls, changing the footprint, or altering the roof structure. The Florida Building Code only exempts ordinary minor repairs that do not cut into walls or remove load-bearing supports, so structural work is never exempt. Additions usually trigger zoning review and, in flood areas, elevation requirements.
Who issues the permit in St. Petersburg?: The local building department for St. Petersburg 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.