St. Petersburg sets front, side, and rear yard setbacks by zoning district under Chapter 16, with traditional neighborhoods generally requiring 5-foot side yards on narrow lots.
Section 16.20.010 and the zoning district tables in Chapter 16 of the St. Petersburg City Code establish minimum yard setbacks for principal and accessory structures. In Neighborhood Traditional and Suburban single-family districts, typical front-yard setbacks range from 15 to 25 feet, side yards run from 5 to 7 feet (with the 5-foot minimum for lots 50 feet wide or less), and rear yards are commonly 15 to 20 feet. Encroachments such as eaves, bay windows, and porches are limited under the Allowable Encroachments handout, with no encroaching structure closer than 4 feet from any property line. The 2025 Residential LDR Update revised some setbacks and design standards to address compatibility in established neighborhoods.
Building within a required setback can result in stop-work orders, removal of the encroaching structure, after-the-fact permit fees, and code enforcement fines.
St. Petersburg, FL
Industrial and commercial operations in St. Petersburg must meet the Chapter 11 plainly-audible standards at zoning boundaries, with stricter limits where in...
St. Petersburg, FL
St. Petersburg restricts leaf blower use to 8 a.m.-8 p.m. weekdays and Saturday and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sundays and holidays, and prohibits blowing yard debris in...
St. Petersburg, FL
Loud exhausts, modified mufflers, and car stereos audible at 25 feet or more are prohibited under FL 316.272 (state law) and St. Petersburg Code Chapter 11. ...
St. Petersburg, FL
St. Petersburg restricts amplified music and vehicle stereos under Chapter 11, banning sound plainly audible 50 feet from a vehicle and tightening downtown e...
St. Petersburg, FL
St. Petersburg enforces quiet hours from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. under Chapter 11, with 'plainly audible' distance standards rather than decibel readings for resid...
St. Petersburg, FL
St. Petersburg enforces Florida Building Code Section 424.2.17 and Florida Statute Chapter 515 requiring 4-foot pool barriers, self-latching gates, and appro...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Pinellas County.
See how other cities in Pinellas County handle setback rules.
See how St. Petersburg's setback rules rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.