St. Petersburg, FL Holiday Decorations: Lawn Ornament Rules (2026)

The St. Petersburg Code of Ordinances does not regulate lawn ornaments — there are no rules on garden statuary, religious figures, pink flamingos, gnomes, or other decorative items on private residential property. City Code Chapter 11 nuisance and blight provisions address trash, junk, dilapidated structures, and unsanitary conditions but do not target ornamental content. Sign regulations in LDR Chapter 16 govern political and commercial signs separately under the framework upheld in Reed v. Town of Gilbert and Florida cases applying it. The St. Petersburg Community Preservation Commission has design review authority over locally designated historic districts (Old Northeast, Granada Terrace, Roser Park, Driftwood, Bayboro, Bartlett Park, North Kenwood) under City Code Chapter 16.30 — a Certificate of Appropriateness may be required for permanent visible exterior changes, though typical garden ornaments and seasonal items generally do not require review. Real restrictions come from HOA architectural review committees in covenanted communities like Bayway Isles, Snell Isle, and master-planned developments. Typical patterns: prior architectural review for items over 2-3 feet; placement limits (rear yard for non-traditional items); requirements for coordination with overall yard appearance. Fla. Stat. §720.304(2) protects display of a U.S. flag up to 4.5 by 6 feet on a freestanding pole up to 20 feet from total HOA bans and provides limited religious-display protections.