Rainwater harvesting is legal across Florida, and Pinellas Park residents may use rain barrels and small cisterns for landscape irrigation. Larger plumbed cisterns or potable systems trigger building and plumbing permits.
Florida law actively encourages rainwater capture for non-potable uses, and Pinellas Park follows the Florida Building Code and Florida Plumbing Code Chapter 13 for any plumbed reuse systems. Residential rain barrels installed at downspouts for outdoor irrigation generally do not require a permit so long as they are not connected to the home's plumbing. Cisterns, larger storage tanks, pumps, or systems that distribute collected water through hose bibs and irrigation lines must meet plumbing code separation, backflow, and labeling requirements, and typically require permits through the city's Building Development Division. Mosquito control is required: barrels must be screened and sealed. Florida Statute 373.62 also requires rain sensors on automatic irrigation systems statewide, complementing rainwater harvesting goals.
Unpermitted plumbed cistern systems, missing backflow prevention on potable connections, or open standing water that violates mosquito-control rules.
See how other cities in Pinellas County handle rainwater harvesting.
See how Pinellas Park's rainwater harvesting rules stack up against other locations.
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