Before You Build in St. Petersburg, FL: Permit & Rule Checklist (2026)

St. Petersburg caps residential fences at 6 feet along side and rear yards and 3 feet within the front building setback under Chapter 16 land development regulations.

St. Petersburg generally requires a building permit for new or replacement fences, with review for height, setbacks, materials, and sight triangles under Chapter 16.

St. Petersburg does not require neighbor approval for boundary fences, but property owners must respect actual lot lines and finished-side-out conventions in residential districts.

St. Petersburg enforces Florida Building Code Section 424.2.17 and Florida Statute Chapter 515 requiring 4-foot pool barriers, self-latching gates, and approved safety features.

St. Petersburg requires building permits for retaining walls over 4 feet tall and engineered drawings for substantial walls under Chapter 16 and Florida Building Code provisions.

Building permits are required before constructing, installing, or substantially altering any residential swimming pool, spa, or hot tub in St. Petersburg, with inspections at multiple stages of work.

St. Petersburg residential pools must include at least one approved safety feature beyond the perimeter barrier, such as door alarms, pool alarms, or approved safety covers, as required by the Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act.

Residential swimming pools in St. Petersburg must be enclosed by a barrier at least four feet tall with self-closing, self-latching gates that meet Florida's Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act and city land development standards.

Above-ground pools in St. Petersburg require permits, must meet setback and barrier requirements, and any deck or ladder providing access must be removable or include a barrier compliant with state pool safety law.

Hot tubs and spas in St. Petersburg are treated as pools under Florida law and require building permits, electrical inspections, and either an approved safety cover or compliant barrier when installed in single-family yards.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Open burning of yard waste, trash, and construction debris is generally prohibited in St. Petersburg under the Pinellas County environmental code and the city Fire Code, with only narrow exceptions for permitted recreational fires and authorized agricultural burns.

St. Petersburg follows the Florida Fire Prevention Code, which permits small recreational fires in approved containers but limits fuel size, location, and proximity to structures, and requires constant adult supervision until the fire is fully extinguished.

St. Petersburg regulates pruning of protected trees under Section 16.40.060 of the Land Development Regulations, requiring ISA-standard practices and arborist oversight on Grand and protected trees.

St. Petersburg follows the SWFWMD water shortage order with a once-a-week irrigation schedule for potable and well water users, with citations starting at $193 per violation.

St. Petersburg requires a permit to remove protected trees under Section 16.40.060, with penalties up to $6,855 for unauthorized removal of a Grand Tree on residential property.