St. Petersburg's Accessory Structures: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles accessory structures a little differently. In St. Petersburg, Florida, there are 9 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Shed Rules

St. Petersburg regulates sheds under Land Development Regulations Sec. 16.50.020 and Sec. 16.60.050, allowing one exempt shed up to 100 square feet and 10 feet tall in side or rear yards.

Key details: Primary section: Sec. 16.50.020. Encroachment rule: Sec. 16.60.050. Exempt shed size: 100 sq ft, 10 ft tall. Front yard: Prohibited. Through lot setback: 10 ft from street.

Placing a shed in a front yard, exceeding the 100 square foot exemption without meeting full setbacks, or skipping required permits can result in code enforcement notices, daily fines, and orders to relocate or remove the shed.

Tiny Homes

Tiny homes in St. Petersburg are reviewed as either accessory dwelling units under Sec. 16.50.010 or accessory living space under Sec. 16.50.011, and must meet Florida Building Code minimums.

Key details: ADU pathway: Sec. 16.50.010. Living space pathway: Sec. 16.50.011. RV tiny homes: RV parks only. Building code: Florida Building Code. Floor area cap: 40% if ADU.

Living in a tiny home on wheels in a residential district, building a tiny home without permits, or exceeding the ADU floor area cap can trigger code enforcement, daily fines, and orders to remove or relocate the structure.

Garage Conversions

St. Petersburg requires permits for garage-to-living-space conversions under Sec. 16.50.010 and Sec. 16.50.011, with parking, density, and Florida Building Code compliance reviewed at submittal.

Key details: ADU section: Sec. 16.50.010. Living space section: Sec. 16.50.011. Permit required: Building and zoning. Parking: Must be replaced. Building code: Florida Building Code.

Converting a garage without permits, eliminating required parking, or adding an unpermitted kitchen can trigger code enforcement, daily fines, after-the-fact permits, and orders to restore parking or remove unapproved improvements.

Carport Rules

St. Petersburg permits one carport per single-family lot under Land Development Regulations Sec. 16.50.020, exempt from full design standards but subject to setback, height, and permit rules.

Key details: Code section: Sec. 16.50.020. Allowed per lot: One carport. Front placement: Restricted. Permit: Required. Wind standard: Florida Building Code.

Installing a carport without a permit, placing it in front of the home, or enclosing it into a habitable structure without approval can result in code enforcement action, daily fines, and orders to relocate, modify, or remove the carport.

ADU Permits

St. Petersburg permits accessory dwelling units in most single-family and multi-family residential zoning districts under the Land Development Regulations (City Code Chapter 16). ADUs are subject to size, parking, owner-occupancy, and design standards, plus full Florida Building Code 8th Edition compliance. Florida HB 1031 (2024) codified at Fla. Stat. §163.31771 created a statewide ADU enabling framework that encourages — but does not preempt — local standards. Permits flow through the Construction Services and Permitting Department at the Municipal Services Center.

Key details: Code Authority: City Code Ch. 16 (LDR) + FBC 8th Ed. Permit Office: Construction Services - 1 4th St N. Typical Size Cap: 750-800 sq ft / % of principal. Wind Load: 150 mph ultimate (FBC Pinellas). State Law: Fla. Stat. §163.31771 (HB 1031, 2024).

Construction without permits triggers stop-work orders, double permit fees, and mandatory exposure of concealed work under City Code Chapter 16 and the Florida Building Code. The St. Petersburg Codes Compliance Assistance Department and Code Enforcement Board can impose fines up to $250 per day for first violations and $500 per day for repeat violations under Fla. Stat. §162.09. Habitation without certificate of occupancy is a separate code violation. Unpermitted work also voids most homeowner insurance coverage, creates closing-disclosure problems on Pinellas County property transfers, and can be ordered removed by the Code Enforcement Board.

ADU Owner Occupancy

St. Petersburg's Land Development Regulations (City Code Chapter 16) condition ADU approval in single-family residential districts on owner occupancy of either the primary dwelling or the ADU. The condition is intended to prevent single-family lots from operating as de facto investor duplexes. Florida HB 1031 (2024) at Fla. Stat. §163.31771 encourages but does not preempt municipal owner-occupancy conditions. Pinellas County homestead status is the standard proof of compliance.

Key details: Owner Occupancy: Required - one of two units. Code Authority: City Code Ch. 16 (LDR). Proof at COO: Homestead/voter/FL DL. State Trend: Fla. Stat. §163.31771 (encourages removal). HOA Authority: Fla. Stat. Ch. 718, 719, 720.

Operating an ADU and primary dwelling without owner occupancy in single-family districts can trigger Codes Compliance Assistance Department notice and Code Enforcement Board action with fines up to $250 per day for first violations and $500 per day for repeat under Fla. Stat. §162.09, plus possible revocation of the ADU certificate of occupancy. HOA and condominium covenant violations create independent civil exposure under Fla. Stat. Chapters 718, 719, and 720, with prevailing-party attorney fee shifting available in many disputes.

ADU Rental Restrictions

Florida Statute §509.032(7) preempts local government regulation of vacation rentals — St. Petersburg cannot ban short-term rentals or impose duration-based zoning restrictions adopted after June 1, 2011. The city operates a Vacation Rental Registration Program within the preempted scope, requiring annual registration, designation of a local responsible party, and remittance of taxes. Long-term ADU rentals remain subject to the LDR Chapter 16 owner-occupancy condition in single-family districts. Pinellas County Tourist Development Tax of 6% applies to all stays under six months.

Key details: STR Preemption: Fla. Stat. §509.032(7). STR Registration: Required (St. Pete program). Tourist Dev Tax: 6% Pinellas County. FL Sales Tax: 6% + 1% county surtax. DBPR License: Required (transient lodging).

Unregistered short-term rentals violate the city's Vacation Rental Registration ordinance with fines up to $500 per day, and unremitted sales and tourist development taxes carry penalties and interest under Fla. Stat. §212.12 and §125.0104. Code Enforcement Board penalties up to $250 per day first offense and $500 per day for repeat violations under Fla. Stat. §162.09. Non-owner-occupied ADU rentals in single-family districts violate LDR Chapter 16 and can trigger certificate-of-occupancy revocation. HOA and condo covenant enforcement is independent and often more aggressive, with attorney fee shifting available under Fla. Stat. Chapters 718, 719, and 720.

Compared to other cities, St. Petersburg takes a harder line on adu rental restrictions. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

ADU Impact Fees

St. Petersburg assesses impact fees and utility connection charges on new residential construction including ADUs, although ADU charges are typically scaled to size and existing utility service. Florida Statute §163.31801 (the Florida Impact Fee Act) governs all municipal impact fees and caps annual increases under HB 337 (2021). Pinellas County also levies a school impact fee assessed at the county level. ADUs sharing existing utility connections with the primary dwelling often see substantially reduced water and wastewater charges.

Key details: Impact Fees: Apply to ADUs (scaled to size). State Cap: Fla. Stat. §163.31801 (HB 337). Categories: Transp, parks, water, sewer, fire. School Fee: Pinellas County School Board. Shared Utilities: Reduced/waived water-sewer.

Failure to pay required impact fees blocks issuance of the building permit and certificate of occupancy. Unauthorized utility connections trigger disconnection by the City of St. Petersburg Water Resources Department and back-billing with penalties. Unpermitted construction discovered later faces doubled permit and impact fees plus Code Enforcement Board action up to $500 per day for repeat violations under Fla. Stat. §162.09. Unpaid water and sewer charges become a lien collectable on the Pinellas County property tax bill.

ADU Rules

St. Petersburg permits accessory dwelling units in many residential districts under Land Development Regulations Sec. 16.50.010, with size, lot, parking, and design rules expanded by Ordinance 509-H.

Key details: Code section: Sec. 16.50.010. Min lot size NT: 4,500 sq ft. Floor area cap: 40% of combined. Authorizing ord.: Ord. 509-H. Mailing address: Shared only.

Building or renting an ADU without permits, exceeding the 40 percent floor area cap, or assigning a separate mailing address can trigger code enforcement action, daily fines, stop-work orders, and required removal or modification.

The Bottom Line

St. Petersburg's accessory structures rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming St. Petersburg is broadly strict or permissive.

These rules come from St. Petersburg's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.