Dunedin vs St. Petersburg
How do rainwater harvesting rules compare between Dunedin, FL and St. Petersburg, FL?
Dunedin and St. Petersburg have similar restriction levels.
Dunedin, FL
Pinellas County
Rainwater harvesting is legal and encouraged in Dunedin. The city and SWFWMD promote rain barrels as a conservation tool, and there are no Dunedin-specific prohibitions, though structural cisterns may require building permits.
View full Dunedin rules →St. Petersburg, FL
Pinellas County
St. Petersburg encourages residential rainwater harvesting through rain barrels and cisterns, with no city ban and Florida statute protecting basic collection on private property.
View full St. Petersburg rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Dunedin | St. Petersburg |
|---|---|---|
| Permit needed | Plumbed or large cisterns | - |
| Small barrels | Generally no permit | - |
| Inlet rule | Debris screen required | - |
| Overflow | Must be properly sized | - |
| HOA protection | FFL statute applies | - |
| Rain barrels | - | Generally no permit |
| Cisterns | - | Building permit required |
| Backflow | - | Required if plumbed |
| Schedule exempt | - | Stored rainwater |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Dunedin FAQ
Do I need a permit for a rain barrel in Dunedin?
A standard 50- to 60-gallon rain barrel under a downspout does not require a permit. Permits apply if you plumb the system into household irrigation or install large above-ground cisterns.
Can my HOA ban rain barrels in Dunedin?
Florida-Friendly Landscaping statute Sec. 373.185 limits HOAs from prohibiting reasonable conservation features including rain barrels, though they may impose neutral aesthetic standards on placement.
St. Petersburg FAQ
Do I need a permit for a rain barrel in St. Petersburg?
No. Standard rain barrels under 100 gallons attached to a downspout on a residential lot are encouraged and do not require a city permit, as long as they are screened from the street.
Can I use harvested rainwater during St. Pete watering restrictions?
Yes. Stored rainwater is exempt from the SWFWMD once-a-week schedule and may be used any day, making rain barrels a smart drought-season tool for landscape irrigation.
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