St. Petersburg, FL Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)

2 sets the scope of the city's Floodplain Management Ordinance broadly: it applies to all development wholly or partially within any flood hazard area, including subdivision of land, filling and grading, utility installation, construction or alteration of buildings and facilities exempt from the Florida Building Code, placement of manufactured homes, installation or replacement of tanks, placement of recreational vehicles, and installation of swimming pools. 1 backs that scope with a permit mandate: any applicant undertaking development activity within a flood hazard area must first apply to the Floodplain Manager, styled the 'POD,' and obtain the required permits before starting, and every permit carries a condition that all other applicable city, state and federal permits are obtained first.

1, is the person officially designated to administer and enforce the ordinance and may delegate duties to other staff. 1: any regulated development performed without a permit, in conflict with an issued permit, or otherwise noncompliant is a violation, and a building lacking documented lowest-floor elevation or other required certifications is presumed to be in violation until the paperwork is produced. 2, if a court, the Code Enforcement Board, the property owner or the City Council finds an uncorrected violation, the City Council can declare the property in violation and forward that declaration to FEMA, which can result in denial of flood insurance and a bar on new permits except for maintenance of existing structures or removal of the violation.